UFC postpones next 3 events amid pandemic
The UFC postponed its next three events in response to the coronavirus pandemic, according to MMA Junkie's Nolan King and John Morgan.
The events scheduled for March 21 in London, March 28 in Columbus, and April 11 in Portland will not proceed as planned, UFC president Dana White informed employees Monday.
"We did everything we could to relocate our next three events - London, Columbus, and Portland," he wrote in an email obtained by King and Morgan. "But every day, there are new restrictions put in place on travel and large public gatherings that are making it impossible to stay on schedule."
Before this announcement, the promotion was adamant it would proceed with its scheduled events - albeit in new locations - despite the outbreak.
White announced Sunday that the London card would be moving, likely to the United States. Previously, the Columbus and Portland events had been moved to the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas. But after the Nevada Athletic Commission banned combat sports events in the state until March 25, White confirmed those events would take place elsewhere.
"I've been doing this for over 20 years, and this stuff happens to me every weekend," White said Sunday. "I'm used to this stuff. Not at this level, obviously, but this is what we do, and we always make sure that the fights happen, and they're going to continue to happen."
White wrote that the UFC 249 event on April 18 is still "scheduled as planned," but the location is expected to change. The card, which features a lightweight title bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson, was originally set for Brooklyn, New York.
UFC London was expected to be headlined by Tyron Woodley-Leon Edwards. UFC Columbus would've featured Francis Ngannou-Jairzinho Rozenstruik. And the UFC Portland main event was supposed to be Alistair Overeem-Walt Harris.
One of the promotion's events, UFC Brasilia, proceeded as scheduled last weekend, but fans were not allowed in the arena. Charles Oliveira beat Kevin Lee in the main event.
White also said the UFC offices, as well as the Performance Institute in Las Vegas, would be closing, effectively immediately, until at least March 31.