Fans can mask up, haters can shut up.
That appears to be the message from UFC President Dana White, who faced some criticism for his death-defying decision to stage live MMA events during a global pandemic. But White likes to give fans what they want and well, 17,000 ticket holders can’t be wrong.
Or COVID-free, based on the rise of mutated variants.
UFC 262, scheduled for May 15 inside Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, will be headlined by the lightweight title fight pitting Charles Oliveira against Michael Chandler. The strap was vacated by Khabib Nurmagomedov after “The Eagle” submitted Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 back in Oct. 2020.
The victor could move on to face the winner of this fight.
Elsewhere on the card, top welterweight contender Leon Edwards, fresh off his eye-poking “No Contest” opposite Belal Muhammad, will keep himself busy against longtime veteran Nate Diaz. In addition, Tony Ferguson returns to throw lightweight leather opposite Beneil Dariush.
Expect a finalized UFC 262 fight card in the coming days.