Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC
“Four months ago, I could have told you everything about this business, where’s it’s going, where it’s going to happen. I don’t know now.”
Despite the UFC being back and up running and hosting regular fight cards, president Dana White has said he is preparing for a second coronavirus lockdown.
The UFC hosted their first event following the coronavirus lockdown last month on May 9th, which was UFC 249 in Jacksonville, Florida. With lockdown measures now being eased around the world, the promotion has been able to return to Las Vegas to host events, and they will begin to host fights on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi at the beginning of July.
Talking to MMA Junkie, White said the most frustrating part about the current pandemic is not knowing what the future holds for his business.
“I told you guys going into this thing I’m always thinking about what’s next,” White said. “One of the frustrating parts about this whole thing is, I keep telling this story, I was telling it again this morning: Four months ago, I could have told you everything about this business, where’s it’s going, where it’s going to happen. I don’t know now. So all I do is sit around and strategize and try to plan. And I’m planning for a second shutdown, that it will happen again.”
Even though the UFC has returned to running cards, they have done so with precautionary measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus. All events are taking place behind closed doors for the foreseeable future, with White recently stating he is against the idea of half-filled venues.
He continued on, saying that he’s a worst-case scenario kind of person when it comes to his thought process:
“I’m always thinking about the worst, what’s the worst thing that can – when you hear (fighters) talking about when they train, they put themselves in the worst positions they can possibly be in, that’s how I look at this business, too. What’s the worst position we can possibly be in? And my number one goal is always I don’t want to lay off any of my employees, and I don’t want fighters sitting inactive and not being able to compete.”
The UFC’s next event will go down tonight in UFC Apex in Vegas.