Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC
It sounds like the UFC boss is unwilling to wear a mask during fight week events, and may wind up watching this week’s UFC card from his private room because of it.
Dana White is drawing a line in the sand with the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The NSAC recently handed down their COVID-19 protocols for combat sporting events, which cleared the way for the UFC to return to Las Vegas and put on this weekend’s show at their Apex facility. However, as part of those protocols, the commission made it clear that all fighters, corners, and event staff must wear masks at all times during fight week activities. That includes UFC president Dana White. And from the sound of things, he’s not having it.
In a recent media scrum, during the lead up to the event, White reportedly revealed that he may be watching this week’s UFC card from his private room. That move is reportedly due to his unwillingness to fall in line with the guidelines set down by the NSAC.
This has been a point of contention all week, I’m told. White said he’ll watch the fights in his private room if he has to tomorrow. Nevada wants everyone in attendance to be wearing a mask. Sean Shelby did the faceoffs today while wearing a mask. https://t.co/ZRNZLHmyTL
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 29, 2020
If the commission isn’t willing to back down on their mask policy, it could make for a strange few months for the promotion—which has appeared to see their Apex facility in Las Vegas as the host for most of their stateside events as pandemic measures continue.
Will White really opt against being on-hand for the upcoming UFC 250 PPV card? Or will he just flout NSAC regulations to see how the commission reacts? Of course, he could always just put a mask on and make things easy. But for now, it seems like that’s a bridge too far.