Dana White was among the sports league heads who partook in a conference call with President Donald Trump amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hours after Saturday’s call, the White House and president Trump held a press conference to update the American public about the progressing pandemic. Among the various topics discussed, Trump referenced his call with UFC president White and other sports league heads.
“I just spoke with the commissioners and leaders of, I would say, virtually all of the sports leagues,” Trump said. “These are all the great leaders of sport. They want to get back. They’ve got to get back. They can’t do this. Their sports weren’t designed for it. The whole concept of our nation wasn’t designed for it. We’re going to have to get back. We want to get back soon – very soon.”
Later in the press conference, Trump elaborated on his thoughts on the return of professional sports. The president would not commit on a timeline but said he thinks it will be “sooner rather than later.”
“I want fans back in the arenas,” Trump said. “No, I think whenever we’re ready. As soon as we can, obviously. The fans want to be back, too. They want to see basketball, baseball, football, and hockey. They want to see their sports. They want to go out onto the golf courses and breathe nice, clean, fresh, beautiful air.
“I can’t tell you a date, but I think it’s going to be sooner rather than later. We’re not going to have separation for the rest of our times on the planet. We need it for this period of time. Eventually, people are going to be able to occupy those seats in arenas next to each other like we have for all of my life and all of your life.”
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Other commissioners and sports heads who joined White on Saturday’s call included NBA commissioner Adam Silver, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, and WWE CEO Vince McMahon.
The call comes in the midst of an uncertain UFC schedule. Despite White stating he plans to move forward with events in the coming months, the logistics have proven to be difficult. The UFC has postponed three events thus far, and the promotion’s next pay-per-view event, UFC 249 on April 18, does not currently have a host city.
Travel restrictions have also made it unlikely that planned card headliner and UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, among other international fighters, will participate.
MMA Junkie has requested a comment from UFC officials.
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