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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White is expecting to resume full operations in April, starting with the UFC 249 pay-per-view (PPV) event, which is why bantamweight titleholder, Henry Cejudo, is starting to prepare for his very first title defense.

Since the world may not recover in time for UFC 250 to be held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, thanks to the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic, Cejudo (15-2) is calling for a potential replacement in case UFC relocates the card, leaving Jose Aldo stranded overseas.

Paging Dominick Cruz!

“Since UFC 249 is in jeopardy because we can’t get Khabib out of Russia,” Cejudo wrote on social media. “So just in case we can’t get Jose Baldo onto America soil, make sure to bring your untailored tuxedo that you wear every Saturday along with yours balls! Because you’re on deck sweetheart.”

Cruz has yet to respond.

“The Dominator” (22-2) has not competed since dropping a five-round unanimous decision to Cody Garbrandt back in late 2016, thanks to another round of debilitating injuries. The former champion turns 35 in September and probably has one last run left in him at this point.

Once UFC secures a city and venue for UFC 249, it’s likely to stay there until things calm down. Coronavirus has made travel and large gatherings difficult, but White and Co. insist the show must go on, even without an audience.

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If fighter health and safety are a concern for UFC 249, Dana White says there’s nothing to worry about.

The biggest concern about UFC 249 pushing through is fighter health. As recently explained by a veteran ringside physician, a negative result from a COVID-19 test and holding the fight behind closed doors aren’t enough to mitigate the risks of spreading the virus.

Nonetheless, Dana White remains headstrong about moving forward with the event, even if Khabib Nurmagomedov is out of the equation. And as far as fighter health is concerned, the UFC president says there’s nothing to worry about.

“Think about this … in the 20-year history that I’ve been involved (with the UFC) and before me, there’s never been a death or serious injury,” White said recently on Frank Warren’s Heavyweight podcast (via MMA Fighting). “That’s crazy. Cheerleading can’t say that.

“We go completely overboard with health and safety even before the coronavirus. The health and safety part is nothing new to us. It’s now just trying to be able to maneuver as the world continues to freak out and lose their mind over this coronavirus stuff.

“All my fighters want to fight. My staff wants to work,” he added. “Everybody who’s involved in what I’m doing is absolutely willing and able to do this.”

White went on to state that he himself is on top of things when it comes to taking care of fighters and employees.

“The thing is with my fighters, when they’re with me, they’re getting the best medical attention they could possibly get,” he said. “Better if they were home alone by themselves or whatever their situation is. I’ve reached out to everybody, not just my employees that work for me, but my fighters, too — if them or a loved one becomes ill and needs me, I’m here.

“I will do everything in my power to help and take care of them. That’s a given always. This fight will go on.”

UFC 249 remains scheduled for April 18th, with a still undetermined venue. White says he already has “four to five” locations in mind, with Florida as one of the supposed frontrunners.

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion, Jon Jones, does not like veteran mixed martial arts (MMA) referee, “Big” John McCarthy, and has previously petitioned Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) to keep the longtime man in black from officiating his fights.

It appears the feeling is mutual.

McCarthy was a recent guest on the “Weighing In” podcast with host and former UFC lightweight Josh Thomson to discuss Jones’ latest arrest in Albuquerque, New Mexico. “Bones” was charged with aggravated DWI as well as negligent use of a firearm and possession of an open container.

“You are a world champion inside the cage. Outside the cage, you’re an absolute loser,” McCarthy said. “If I was in charge of the UFC, I would cut him. Not only would I take his title, I would cut him. And if Bellator wanted to sign him, I would do everything I could to say, ‘Why are you doing that, don’t even think about it.’ Because all he’s going to do is bring you bad press.”

Friends of the “kind and noble” Jones, however, have argued for leniency.

“It is absolutely incomprehensible that this man cannot control his actions,” McCarthy continued. “When he’s being arrested, ‘Oh I just want to be with my kids.’ No, you had the chance to be with your kids. You decided to go out and and drink and drive and shoot guns and you decided to take that ability away. You decided that. No one made you.”

UFC can release the embattled champ, or get him some help as this longtime rival suggests.

Jones, 32, was last seen capturing a narrow decision victory over Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 back in February. He’s expected to appear before the judge on April 8 for a bond arraignment hearing, assuming the coronavirus quarantine doesn’t force the court to reschedule.

Or toss the case altogether.

Sodiq Yusuff did the consistent work, and he’s now seeing the fruits of that labor.

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