Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
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.