FIGHTING BACK
It’s not about the money blasts chief White
DANA WHITE insists the UFC have done everything in their power to protect their fighters from catching coronavirus this weekend.
Following a two-month break, MMA’S leading promotion will resume service with their fourth pay-per-view card of the year.
UFC 249 will take place behind closed doors at the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, in the early hours of tomorrow morning.
The promotion has introduced strict Covid-19 testing and social distancing measures ahead of the return, which president White is confident will go off without a hitch.
“I believe we can pull this off and do it safe,” he said.
“I don’t think you’re going to see crowds back at live sports for a while.
Listen, we have families, too. I have a family. I don’t want to hurt my family. I don’t want to die. This isn’t crazy, this is a well thought-out plan.
“We’ve had very, very smart people, doctors and people that have been involved with the UFC for a very long time, working on this thing non-stop since it started.”
Some critics accuse the
UFC
■ of rushing back to profit from the lack of sport across the globe.
But that suggestion has angered White, who said: “That’s what I’m always painted as. Corporate greed. I’m a f***ing money monger.
“I’m this and that. I’m like, ‘Do you people understand that I don’t have to do this? I could’ve retired five years ago.’
“I’m not doing this because I need the money. I haven’t laid off one employee. Everybody is getting paid.
“Fighters that were supposed to fight, if they didn’t get their fight, they’re getting some money too.”
Fighters have been placed on lockdown in their hotel this week and given private workout rooms to ensure they come into contact with as few people as possible before they trade blows.
When they enter the octagon, it will be business as usual in terms of the fighting and kicking.
UFC 249 will be headlined by an interim lightweight title fight between fan favourites Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje.
White is expecting fireworks from the in-form 155-pounders, saying: “I can guarantee you this fight is going to be insane.
“I can also guarantee you it will be one of the nominated fights for the ‘Fight of the Year’ award this year.”