Miami (AFP)
The UFC, the largest professional mixed martial arts league, is preparing to resume its fights behind closed doors on Saturday in Jacksonville, seven weeks after the forced shutdown of sports competitions in the United States because of the coronavirus.
The boss of the body, Dana White, seems close to the point, he who had notably tried in vain to get around California law by trying to organize an evening on an Indian reserve, under pressure from his broadcaster ESPN.
This time, the sports channel will rebroadcast UFC 249, the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, authorizing the holding of the event because he made professional sport an "essential service" of his state.
The bouts will therefore take place without spectators at the Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jacksonville, with the headliner for the vacant light weight title between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje.
The two fighters, accompanied by their staff who wore masks, took part in the traditional weigh-in Friday, in front of a very limited staff and some representatives of the media kept at a distance. The scale has been cleaned and sanitized.
While the major American sports bodies (NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, PGA Tour ...) are working on the calendar for resuming competition, Dana White welcomes the return of the UFC, believing that it is a step towards normalcy and a boon for hungry sports fans.
"Donald Trump has called for the return of live sports," White told the Los Angeles Times. "He said, show everyone how to do it safely. Entertain people who are confined to their homes (...) I'll go first. I hope after doing that, other leagues will will say: yeah, we can do it. "
White, who also announced two more fighting nights on May 13 and 16 in Jacksonville, insisted that the production will not endanger anyone.
"We also have families," he said CNN Sport. "I have a family, I don't want to endanger them, I don't want to die".
"The event was well thought out. We had very, very intelligent people, including doctors, who have been working non-stop for a long time for this. We think that it will take place in the safest place possible", he promised.
© 2020 AFP