LAS VEGAS – The Nevada Athletic Commission, in an emergency meeting held Saturday, voted to revoke all combat sports licenses until March 25 amid growing concerns about the novel coronavirus.
The NAC also voted to revisit the issue during its March 25 meeting to reach “an appropriate response to the COVID-19 virus that observes the Commission’s [sic] primary mandate to protect the health and safety of the public.”
The development could impact UFC’s immediate future plans. In response to government bans on large gatherings in Ohio and Oregon, the UFC announced this week that it intends to hold its March 28 and April 11 cards – originally scheduled for Columbus and Portland, respectively – at its Apex facility in Las Vegas behind closed doors. That was part of a larger decision by the UFC to continue holding events despite the global coronavirus pandemic causing the rest of the sports world to be on hold.
While Saturday’s meeting did not directly impact the UFC’s ability to host the March 28 and April 11 events, it brings into question the commission’s willingness to oversee an event during the ongoing pandemic.
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NAC representatives declined to comment further when approached by MMA Junkie, but executive director Bob Bennett issued a statement to UFC broadcast partner ESPN.
“I’ve been in constant contact with a litany of doctors and medical professionals and am intimately familiar with most professional and amateur sports events being suspended at this point in time for an undetermined period,” Bennett said. “I will continue to collect information and speak with various medical experts and be prepared to provide the information to the chairman and commissioners on March 25.”
The UFC moved forward with UFC on ESPN+ 28 on Saturday in Brasilia, Brazil. Fans and media were not allowed inside Ginasio Nilson Nelson.
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