By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
At the essence of what drives Las Vegas-based Ultimate Fighting Championship is a simple slogan that sums up why Dana White forged ahead in the teeth of a virus pandemic to finally find a home for what he calls a “stacked card” at UFC 249 in Jacksonville, Florida Saturday.
The UFC message on a wall at its headquarters off the 215 beltway in southwest valley is that it’s in the DNA of human beings to fight, with White as the planet’s most brash Pied Piper carrying out that DNA-based motto.
To illustrate how intense and passionate White is about putting on fights and making money from PPV fight shows, he moved UFC 249 from its original venue in Brooklyn to UFC’s new APEX building next to the promotion’s HQ to a Native American tribal venue outside Fresno, California before finally finding a home at an arena in Jacksonville, Florida.
A supporter of President Donald Trump, White spoke with the president with a group of sports league leaders on re-starting big-time sports during a time of year that is typically flourishing with NBA and NHL playoffs, the start of Major League Baseball and iconic one-off annual events like the Kentucky Derby.
Perhaps White’s greatest gift is a Teflon skin that deflects all criticism amid his mission to bring sports entertainment to a country of sports fans watching mostly old NFL and NBA games and waiting every week to watch the “Last Dance” 10-part documentary series on ESPN every Sunday.
“These fights will happen. Whatever it takes,” White told ESPN as part of the build-up to Saturday’s UFC 249.
UFC found a partner to dance Saturday in the Florida State Athletic Commission, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena for three UFC events in eight days. Saturday’s headliner will be an interim lightweight title match between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje, with the colorful Ferguson posting a video on Instagram showing him getting tested with a swab being inserted in his nose.
On fight day, White tweeted, “I’ve never been more proud to be a part of this sport than I am today. In tough times, you need tough people; from the fighters, corners, their families, my staff, production, the athletic commission, and most importantly, the physicians and nurses that made tonight a reality.”
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LVSportsBiz.com was impressed with the terrific summary compiled by Sports Business Daily/Sports Business Journal of the COVID-19 logistics that UFC will follow as it stages three fight events Saturday, May 13 and May 16 at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. The sports-business publication’s report said UFC has 1,200 coronavirus tests on hand to test fighters, trainers and work staff for the three shows in eight days. UFC submitted a 25-page document to the Florida State Athletic Commission outlining the logistical game plan, which was also given to the Nevada Athletic Commission because the Las Vegas-based promotion wants to hold a fight show in Las Vegas May 23.
Many less UFC staffers and media workers will be on hand in the fan-free arena and social distancing will be in place Saturday, while “announcers will sit at least six feet away from each other, with Jon Anik, Daniel Cormier and Joe Rogan sitting at separate tables around the octagon,” SBD/SBJ said. “Less production staff will be on hand, but Epstein says, ‘I don’t think the fan will really notice any difference.’ Saturday’s event will be a pay-per-view, with ESPN and ESPN+ carrying the prelims. Upcoming events are slated for ESPN+, but there’s been talk that they could be simulcast on ESPN.”
“What we’ve done is about as good as you can get if you’re going to do an event in a somewhat urban environment,” Epstein said.
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On Friday, a fighter scheduled in a match for UFC 249 tested positive for the coronavirus. Middleweight Ronaldo Jacare Souza, who was scheduled to fight Uriah Hall, tested positive and the bout is scrubbed. UFC 249 will go on, the promotion said. Here is the UFC statement on Souza:
“The middleweight bout between Uriah Hall vs Jacaré Souza will no longer be on the UFC 249 preliminary card due to one of Souza’s COVID-19 tests indicating a positive result.
“In addition, COVID-19 tests for Souza’s two cornermen were also flagged as positive. UFC’s medical team examined Souza and his two cornermen and found them to be currently asymptomatic, or not exhibiting the common symptoms of COVID-19. As per UFC’s health and safety protocols, all three men have left the host hotel and will be self-isolating off premises, where UFC’s medical team will monitor their conditions remotely and will provide assistance with any necessary treatment.
“From their arrival earlier in the week until their departure today, Souza and his cornermen followed UFC health and safety protocols, including practicing social distancing, wearing personnel protective equipment, and self-isolating whenever possible.
“There have been no other positive COVID-19 tests reported from the remaining athletes participating in UFC 249.
“The response to this development is indicative of the effectiveness of the health and safety measures UFC has put in place for this event.”
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Here is Nevada’s novel coronavirus numbers for Friday.
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