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UFC president Dana White isn’t in full agreement on the lockdowns imposed by the US government.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought major US cities to a lockdown. With the shutdown of non-essential businesses, sports leagues like the NBA have called off the remainder of its current season.
The UFC has been defiant about following suit, but were eventually forced to cancel three of its events. With the uncertainty about when business goes back in full swing, company president Dana White is seemingly getting impatient about the current situation.
“How long are we going to do this?” White told Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole on Tuesday (via MMA Junkie). “How long are we going to stay in our houses and hide? If the coronavirus is going to get me, then so be it. It is what it is. Heart disease, car accidents, cancer, the list goes on and on on, all these things that kill people every year.
“One thing is guaranteed – We’re all going to die of something. You can’t be somebody that’s going to hide in your house for months,” stated White, who also says he’s remained at home since March 15th. “You’re going to hide in your house for months? For what? No way. To be honest with you, if this goes on for months, I have a great house to be locked up in, man.
“My house was built for quarantine; we’re having a blast over here. I’m spending incredible time with my kids and family. I’m doing two-, three-a-day workouts over here. We’re doing things that we haven’t done with the kids since they were little. I can do this forever if that’s what everybody wants to do.
“But is this what were going to do? Since when do Americas run and hide in their frickin’ houses instead of taking this thing head on and finding solutions?” he continued. “You find solutions on how to continue to live your life, protect the people that need to be protected.
“I don’t think I’m a high-risk guy for this thing, and if I’m wrong, then the corona is going to get me. It is what it is. There’s nothing you can do about it. I’m not going to refuse to live my life. I’m not going to hide.
“Whether you’re a coronavirus expert or not, it’s like hiding from cancer. You can’t hide from this thing. If you are a high-risk person, this thing’s going to get you.”
White says he will push through with UFC 249 behind closed doors. He already has a venue in place, but refuses to disclose it just yet. He also confirmed that the UFC will resume its “regular schedule” after the April 18th card.