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Dana White is looking to benefit from being part of Donald Trump’s task force.
Dana White is facing a lot of hurdles in his unwavering desire to host shows during this coronavirus pandemic. Despite four shows already being scrapped, the UFC President remained confident in his ability to start hosting several events — starting with a big PPV on May 9th — and claiming he has everything figured out.
White recently had a virtual meeting with several of his fighters to talk about their upcoming plans, and it is where he reportedly spoke about how his close ties to the government can help him achieve his goals for his business.
The UFC President has recently been made part of Donald Trump’s task force, which was formed to help restart the US economy. According to MMA Junkie, White said his confidence that UFC will be able to start back up soon “partially stems from knowing non-public details” only revealed to those in that task force.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission says talking about sanctioning combat sports events in May is still “premature,” and that they’re “closed until further notice.” Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak, on the other hand, has also expressed hesitation about lifting lockdown mandates after April 30, promising to prioritize lives over dollars.
Armed with that Trump’s backing though, White reportedly “made it clear” that opening the UFC APEX facility (and Performance Institute) for shows is a top priority, and will be meeting Governor Sisolak to “discuss options.”
Also reportedly part of the meeting, White stated that American fighters on their roster may be able to compete on their planned “Fight Island,” and that having International Fight Week in July is “doubtful.” He also spoke about more fighter-centric plans for the upcoming shows, such as not liking catchweights for scheduled bouts despite the pandemic, and limiting the cornermen for each fighter.