Looking for a venue: White defiant in wake of spreading Coronavirus

Dana White is looking for a venue until there is “a total shutdown of the country.”

With new travel restrictions put in place as well as restrictions on English sporting events, UFC London will not go forward next Saturday.  Moreover, one of the headliners, Leon Edwards, announced on social media that he would not fight this Saturday due to the enhanced travel restrictions which would have required him to leave for the United States immediately even though a site for his fight with Tyron Woodley has not been confirmed. 

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Last night I went to sleep still with some hope that UFC London would continue next week. I woke up this morning to the news that it won't be. We have been working with the UFC on possible solutions to keep the fight alive, but unfortunately with such a short window of time, nothing was viable. Myself and my team are all fathers, husbands, sons and brothers, and not all of us can leave our families right now. I wish we could have found a way for the fans, I truly do. I have been dreaming of headlining a UFC show in my home country since I started this sport. This cancellation is truly heartbreaking. I have never worked harder and never been more prepared for the biggest moment in my career. But I know that the whole world is hurting right now and this is bigger than me, this is bigger than sports. All I can hope for is that all of you stay safe and look after each other as we get past this and move forward. I am humbled by the thousands of messages of support I have received in the hours since the announcement, I truly appreciate you all and feel a lot of love right now. I look forward to this event being rebooked when it is safe to do so, so Tyron and I can put on the show that you all deserve. Please take care, we will all get through is. Rocky

A post shared by Leon "Rocky" Edwards (@leon_edwardsmma) on Mar 15, 2020 at 11:27am PDT

After the Nevada Athletic Commission held an emergency meeting on Saturday afternoon which put on hold all combat sports in the state until its monthly meeting on March 25^th, the plan to hold fights at the UFC Apex will not go forward as the promotion planned.

White appeared on ESPN on Saturday night to discuss the plans for the next several weeks.  “We’re working on finding a venue, likely in the United States, and I have my matchmakers working right now to put together the undercard,” White said of Saturday’s UFC London event.  He also highlighted that UFC 249 taking place next month will go forward as planned.  White hoped to have two venue options for the fight by Sunday.

“We’re not stopping,” White said defiantly.  The UFC is the last professional sport that is still holding events despite the concerns and public health warnings about the coronavirus. 

The UFC held an event in Brazil before an empty arena on Saturday night.  It was the only live sporting event on ESPN Saturday.

Payout Perspective:

White plan does not seem very sound considering the mandate by public health experts that people embrace “social distancing” for the next couple weeks.  Holding events, even without having fans, could cause a problem for the fact that there are still a handful of staff, crew and fighters in the arena.  Moreover, the sport itself lends to the possible spread.  In addition, it unnecessarily puts people in harm.  The company could afford to put off a couple weeks of events but for the sheer reason of doing it, they are still going.  I would be more assured if the UFC told us everyone was being tested for the virus, but that’s unlikely.  For the UFC, being the only game in town will certainly help as many will watch because they are taking the advice of health officials and stay at home.