Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Before Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) president, Dana White, could confirm UFC 249’s location — all signs pointed to Tachi Palace Resort Casino In Lemoore, Calif. — the event has been canceled.
ESPN broke the news revealing that not only is UFC 249 — which was set for April 18, 2020 — postponed indefinitely, so are all of the promotion’s other scheduled events.
“UFC 249 has been canceled. All UFC events postponed indefinitely, due to COVID-19,” read the tweet from Brett Okamoto. “Dana White says he was ready to promote the event but things were taken out of his control”
White spoke to ESPN to explain that the higher-ups at Disney and ESPN ultimately made the call to pull the plug.
“This whole thing has been a battle since day one. We have been fighting all day and all night since this pandemic started, to put on this event on April 18. Today we got a call from the highest level you can go at Disney, and the highest level at ESPN. One thing that I have said since we started our relationship with ESPN, is that it’s been an incredible one and ESPN has been good to us. The powers that be there asked me to stand down and not do this event next Saturday.”
“We’re ready to go. One thing I wanted to point out is that Tachi Palace in California, the Indian reservation, has had our back this whole time and stood its ground and willing to do this fight. When the world gets back to normal, the California event will be at Tachi Palace. I am going to give them a big fight. I appreciate them standing with me.”
“One other thing I want to point out is, all of my fighters that are under contract with me, I want them to feel save and take time with their families and enjoy this time. Do not worry about the financial part of this. You are going to get the rights on your contract and I am going to make things right with the people who were willing to step up and fight next weekend. I am going to take care of as many people as I possibly can. All of my employees, mo one is getting laid off at UFC. We will be the first sport back. Fight island is real, we are building the infrastructure right now and it will be on ESPN.”
Coincidentally enough, the move comes shortly after United States Senator, Dianne Feinstein, who represents California, issued a statement urging UFC to postpone the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’m concerned by reports that Ultimate Fighting Championship plans to hold a pay-per-view event in California, in defiance of the state’s shelter-in-place order. This event would involve dozens of individuals flying to California and driving to a casino for a purpose no one can honestly claim is essential,” read the statement.
“I understand this event is scheduled to take place on tribal land and therefore is not subject to state law. However, at best this event ties up medical resources and sends a message that shelter-in-place orders can be flouted. At worst, participants and support staff could carry the virus back to their home communities and increase its spread.
“I call on Ultimate Fighting Championship and the Tachi-Yokut Tribe to reconsider this event and delay it until a later date. We have to be responsible and mindful of all local, state and federal public health guidelines. Going ahead with this event is not the right move.”
Keep it tuned to MMAmania.com for more on this developing story.