By Cassandra Cousineau for LVSportsBiz.com
With countries around the world enacting screening measures, it’s hard to ignore the impact COVID-19, known as coronavirus, has had on business in the United States, including sports and entertainment.
For the better part of six weeks, the world’s biggest MMA promoter — Las Vegas-based UFC — has worked on a strategy to address how the coronavirus will affect its billion-dollar fight business.
On Tuesday, UFC President Dana White discussed the subject ahead of UFC 248 scheduled for T-Mobile Arena Saturday. White was candid about preparations: “We’re already working on it. We began working on this a month and a half ago.”
Co-headlining this weekend’s 248 event is China’s Zhang Weili, the women’s strawweight champion. Weili (20-1), who defends her belt for the first time against Joanna Jedrzejczyk (16-3) Saturday normally trains out of Beijing.
But in early February, she uprooted her camp from China due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak. According to the CDC on Monday, more than 93,000 people have been affected and the death toll has reached 3,201 globally.
Initially, Weili moved to Thailand to complete her training. But following the spread of the deadly virus to that country, she headed to Abu Dhabi and waited for UFC to expedite the process of getting her to the United States.
Her manager Brian Butler explained the move was due to the U.S. decision to ban anyone who’s been to China and other affected countries within 14 days of their planned travel into America.
In addition to Weili, Li Jingliang and Xiaonan Yan decided to travel with her. Jinliang is competing on the same card as Weili. Yan will be taking on Karolina Kowalkiewicz later this month in Auckland, New Zealand.
“Goodbye Thailand, and hello Abu Dhabi,” Zhang wrote in an Instagram post.
Her moves were aided in some way by U.S. presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard. Butler told ESPN last week, “I connected the UFC with Tulsi Gabbard again who is graciously trying to help push things forward.” The two traded friendly shots in a training session Gabbard set-up with the strawweight superstar.
The U.S. Congressional Rep. out of Hawaii had previously offered assistance when Weili was denied entry into the United States recently due to visa issues.
“I hope the U.S. State Department recognizes the value that fighters like Zang Weili bring to this effort, who herself has made history and broken down barriers through her own accomplishments, by allowing her to come and join other UFC fighters and fans from across the US and around the world for the upcoming UFC Fight Night in Boston.”
Zhang’s visa came through shortly thereafter, although it’s unclear how big a part Gabbard played in that.
White has indicated UFC sees the coronavirus crisis as requiring attention. “This thing started as a Chinese problem and it’s turned into a global problem. We’re looking at how this will affect our business this year and how we battle this thing moving forward. It’s going to be interesting to see how this thing plays out over the year.”
Also, Chicago State is considering not playing in the Western Athletic Conference basketball tournament in Las Vegas because of the coronavirus.
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