The UFC is defying all those who are advising canceling events due to the coronavirus pandemic.
And for those who feel that the UFC is failing to understand the severity of the situation, UFC president Dana White headed to ESPN to announce that the continuation of the fights follow his discussion with President Donald Trump.
Dana White talked to President Trump about coronavirus before going ahead with UFC fights
White headed to ESPN to make his announcement about whether the UFC fights would play on amid the coronavirus epidemic, reported TMZ.
Dana detailed in his discussion with President Trump as well as Vice President Pence.
“I talked to the President and the Vice President of the United States today about this and they’re taking this very serious,” said White.
The UFC President also emphasized that although Trump and Pence recommended being “cautious and careful,” the United States President and VP told him to “live your life and stop panicking.”
White’s comments come as leagues such as the MLB and NHL have suspended their own events over the coronavirus pandemic.
Dana White offers his own take on the virus and how the UFC fights offer an alternative to ‘panicking’
Dana described the general public as “panicking.” White then put a positive spin on how the UFC is responding to the coronavirus crisis.
“Instead of panicking we’re actually getting out there and working with doctors and health officials and the government to figure out how to keep the sport safe and how we can continue to put on events,” asserted White.
The UFC doesn't have any plans on stopping https://t.co/OuQkw5LCye
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) March 13, 2020
The UFC president is known as a Trump supporter, according to the New York Post.
What’s next for the UFC fights? Kevin Lee vs. Charles Oliveira to battle in empty building without fans
UFC Fight Night Brazil will continue as planned, with Kevin Lee taking on Charles Oliveira.
White explained that in line with “our sport” and its history of going “overboard with health and safety,” the fight night will occur in a building without any fans.
The Saturday night event at Nilson Nelson Gymnasium in Brasilia will contain only staff members assigned to the event along with the fighters. The fight follows the Brazilian government’s ruling this week that limits the size of public events to a maximum of 100 people in response to attempts to contain the coronavirus.
And for those who feel that it’s not Saturday night without watching a sports match on TV, the UFC president had good news. Lee and Oliveira will battle it out for the ESPN cameras.
Dana White promises more UFC fights scheduled amid coronavirus ‘thing’
White looked forward to Fight Night 171, scheduled for London next week with Tyron Woodley and Leon Edwards. That event will “proceed as planned,” said the UFC president.
One change on the schedule: Switching the March 28 match from Columbus to the UFC Apex Arena in Las Vegas. Francis Ngannou and Jairzinho Rozenstruik will battle it out in Nevada in coordination with “the Nevada State Athletic Commission and executive director Bob Bennett on implementing a process to screen athletes before they compete,” clarified White.
“One of the things we always do, we’re always looking out for the health and safety of our fans, our athletes, whatever it might be,” emphasized the UFC president. “Obviously, this thing going on, we’re going to do the same thing.”