UFC, Bellator sticking to schedules amid coronavirus outbreak

Bellator and the UFC plan to move forward with their events as scheduled despite the global coronovirus epidemic, officials from each promotion told ESPN's Marc Raimondi.

The coronavirus has already led to the cancellation of an ATP tournament in Indian Wells, California, and the suspension of sporting events in Italy. Four prominent North American leagues - MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS - are restricting media access due to concerns about the bug, which originated in China and has caused thousands of deaths worldwide.

"As with any UFC event, our top priority is the health and safety of our fans, athletes, and staff," UFC vice president of communications Lenee Breckenridge said in a statement. "We are monitoring the situation closely in conjunction with our venue partners and medical team, and we are following the recommended guidelines from the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) and the CDC. We also encourage our fans to observe the common sense health precautions suggested by the CDC, such as washing hands frequently and staying home if you are sick."

Over the next three weeks, the UFC is scheduled to host events in Brazil, England, and the United States. Bellator has a card in Uncasville, Connecticut, on Friday, while its next event after that isn't until May 9 in San Jose, California.

"We are closely monitoring the situation and have been in close contact with our venue partners," Bellator spokesperson CJ Tuttle said in a statement.

Other mixed martial arts promotions, including Ares FC in Belgium and Rise FC in Canada, have canceled or altered plans in light of the spreading virus.

In Asia, ONE Championship ordered its Singapore event on Feb. 28 to take place in an empty arena, and has relocated its April 10 card from Chongqing, China, to Jakarta, Indonesia.