With COVD-19 restrictions lifting in Texas allowing maskless attendees to attend a sporting event at full capacity, Dana White stated at the UFC 259 pre-fight press conference that he will immediately move a UFC event to Texas.
White told John Morgan of MMA Junkie at the presser that he called Governor Greg Abbot who made the decision for the state. He indicated that Dallas did not want the event but he is working on Houston. “I want to got to Texas ASAP…we’ll be first.”
White claimed that he was willing to move UFC 260 on March 27th or UFC 261 on April 24th to the Lone Star State.
Texas has held combat spots within the state at 50 percent restricted capacity with certain rules for the event occurring including safety plans addressing COVID-19. However, with the new mandate by the Governor, it would seem that all restrictions on masks, social distancing, etc. would be lifted. No word on whether COVID-19 testing would still occur in the wake of an event happening in Texas.
There have been several boxing events occurring at Texas Stadium but those have occurred at a scaled back attendance rate.
Payout Perspective:
Earlier in the day, Lawrence Epstein spoke at a Ask Anything event in which he lauded White for spearheading the effort to be first. Well, this would seem one where being first might not be prudent. Yet, here we are with undertones of political theater (White, a big Trump anti-masker) sneering at COVID-19 with an eye toward the accolades of being first for no reason at all except to pound his chest. But, one would assume that if an event would happen in Texas, it would be a sell-out. Also, of note, fighters being moved to this card, what say would they have doing the event in Texas?
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