White

By FCF Staff

Even though many jurisdictions have temporarily banning large gatherings and enacting travel restrictions on account of the coronavirus, Dana White says only a government shutdown will cancel the promotion’s upcoming events.

Recently White reported that the UFC was planning to move scheduled cards for Columbus and Portland to its Apex arena in Las Vegas. In addition, the UFC still intended to hold an event in London, England on March 21st. But, recently travel from the United Kingdom to the United States was temporarily halted by President Trump.

But, on Saturday, White confirmed to ESPN that the UFC is looking for a new location for the March 21st card. In addition, he reported that the UFC can no longer look at moving planned cards from Portland and Columbus to the UFC’s Apex center in Las Vegas.

“Obviously, things are changing by the hour,” White said. “This morning, they announced new travel restrictions for the U.K., so [the March 21 event] can’t continue in London. But the fight will go on. We’re working on finding a new venue, likely in the United States, and I have my matchmakers literally working right now to put together the undercard.

“As of now, fights can’t happen at the Apex here in Las Vegas. So, we’re working to find new locations, but the fights will go on; they will continue. We’re not stopping.”

“…Unless there’s a total shutdown of the country, where people can’t leave their houses and things like that, these fights will happen,” White said. “We’re gonna move on. These fights will happen. These guys will compete. We will find venues, and we will figure this thing out. I mean, the only thing that’s gonna stop us is a complete government shutdown, where everybody is confined to their homes.”

White also insisted that the UFC’s April 18th pay-per-view card, which is set to feature Khabib Nurmagomedov versus Tony Ferguson will proceed.