Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
It looks like the UFC is hoping to return to action in the very near future, and to do so with a majorly stacked fight card.
It looks like the UFC is firming up plans for their next big attempt to return to action amid the coronavirus pandemic. And this time around, they’re apparently looking to really stack the card with some major title fights—making up for their cancelled run of upcoming events. While ESPN reports that a final location has yet to be announced, Dana White reportedly told the outlet that he’s got a huge card in mind for May 9th.
BREAKING: UFC president Dana White says the company has turned its focus to hosting its next event on May 9 at a location TBD. He remains adamant the company will get back on schedule, and barring outside factors, intends to hold a card on May 9. **Targeted matchups** include … pic.twitter.com/HBcqC8SmH7
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) April 14, 2020
Assuming that the UFC plans for an interim lightweight title are still on the table, those plans would put three belts on the line for this new event; the two scrapped title fights from UFC 250 – Amanda Nunes vs. Felicia Spencer and Henry Cejudo vs. Dominick Cruz – being joined by the recently cancelled UFC 249 headliner between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje. A heavyweight title between Francis Ngannou and Jairzinho Rozenstruik appears to also be in the works for the card.
No doubt more details will come to light in the following days. And with President Trump’s recent announcement that he would be looking to major sports commissioners like Dana White and Vince McMahon to help lead the way in restarting the economy, it seems much more likely that White’s plans will go forward this time around.
Still, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, a few weeks time is practically an eternity. What may seem likely, and practically workable today could just as quickly become nearly impossible tomorrow. Stay tuned to Bloody Elbow for more news and notes as the story develops.