UFC President Dana White has just come out to reassure fans that the promotion's upcoming fight cards will go on according to plan, despite the recent coronavirus pandemic that has plagued the entire nation. White, however, made it clear that there will be some significant changes in the cards in order to address the current global situation.
UFC Fight Night 171 — headlined by a welterweight bout between Tyron Woodley and Leon Edwards — was scheduled to take place on March 21 in London's O2 Arena. However, with the United Kingdom enforcing a travel ban, White and company have been forced to look for an alternative venue just to be able to push through with the event.
“Obviously, things are changing by the hour,” White said, via Brett Okamoto of ESPN. “This morning, they announced new travel restrictions for the U.K., so [the March 21 event] can't continue in London. But the fight will go on. We're working on finding a new venue, likely in the United States, and I have my matchmakers literally working right now to put together the undercard.
“As of now, fights can't happen at the Apex here in Las Vegas. So, we're working to find new locations, but the fights will go on; they will continue. We're not stopping.”
Another card that has been so heavily anticipated is UFC 249 featuring lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagedov defending his title against the challenger, Tony Ferguson. Originally scheduled to take place on April 19 in Brooklyn's Barclays Arena, it now appears that a change in venue is also in the books for this one.
“So, we had possibly a couple different venues for that fight, including Nevada,” White said. “So, now the whole Nevada thing went down, so we're looking for another venue. I hope by [Sunday morning], I should have two venue options for that fight.
“That fight will happen. It will go on. The fans are all freaking out about that, do not worry. Khabib versus Tony will happen.”
The details are obviously still murky, but what White has made abundantly clear here is that for the UFC, the show will go on.
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