UFC president Dana White is determined to keep the show rolling with UFC 249, and he’s pledged to look after everyone who takes the ride with him.
Speaking to Frank Warren on the British boxing promoter’s Heavyweight Podcast, White said his fighters and staff would be in the best possible hands, and much better hands than if they were at home, when it comes to access to medical treatment for themselves or their loved ones.
“The thing is with my fighters is, when they’re with me, they’re getting the best medical attention they could possibly get – better than if they were home alone by themselves, or whatever their situation is,” White said.
“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. So that’s a given, always. And this fight (at UFC 249) will go on.”
The big question in most minds is about where the event will actually take place,with the world’s governments tightening regulations on travel, gatherings and the staging of events in the wake of the global coronavirus pandemic. But the one man who isn’t saying anything – at least, not yet – is White himself.
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Warren lightheartedly threw in a couple of potential alternative locations, including the famous Alcatraz prison in San Francisco Bay, or the possibility of holding an event on the deck of an aircraft carrier.
“Believe me, people have been talking about that,” White said of the aircraft carrier suggestion. “I haven’t resorted to that yet, but that’s probably coming soon.”
White has made a point of playing his cards very close to his chest regarding plans for a relocated UFC 249 event, and said some recent reporting about him and the UFC suggested to him that elements of the media are more interested in stopping his plans than merely reporting on them.
“A lot of these media guys are absolute and total (expletive) scumbags,” he said. “As soon as you let them know what you’re doing, all they’re trying to do is (expletive) up everything that you’ve worked. So I’ve literally told every one of these guys to go (expletive) themselves and I’m not telling any of them what I’m doing, where I’m doing it.
“But know this: The fight is happening, April 18, somewhere on Planet (expletive) Earth. And when you need to know, I’ll let you know.”
With just 18 days to go until fight night, the wait shouldn’t be too long.
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