UFC 249 canceled, all events on hold indefinitely due to coronavirus pandemic

The UFC has finally waved the white flag on doing fights during the coronavirus pandemic.

The UFC has finally waved the white flag on doing fights during the coronavirus pandemic.

After relentlessly pushing forward with the event schedule in the middle of countless obstacles and outside pressures, UFC president Dana White revealed Thursday that all future events – including UFC 249 on April 18 – have been indefinitely put on hold.

White informed company broadcast partner ESPN of the news, stating that the decision was made after intervention from “the highest level” of both Disney and ESPN.

After holding an event behind closed doors in Brasilia, Brazil on March 14, the UFC postponed three events between March and early April.

Despite that, White insisted UFC 249 would press forward, even after losing its originally anticipated lightweight title headliner between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson. An interim title bout between Ferguson and Justin Gaethje, as well as a new slate of rescheduled and remade fights, were announced for the card.

UFC 249 was reported to take place on tribal land at Tachi Palace Casino Resort in Lemoore, Calif., which White confirmed as accurate. Although never officially announced, the location became well known, and several sanctioning bodies expressed concern over the situation.

The cancellation news comes on the heels of Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California condemning the UFC’s attempt to host UFC 249 while there’s an ongoing stay-at-home order in the state.

“I understand this event is scheduled to take place on tribal land and therefore is not subject to state law,” Feinstein said in a statement. “However, at best this event ties up medical resources and sends a message that shelter-in-place orders can be flouted. At worst, participants and support staff could carry the virus back to their home communities and increase its spread.”

Much more to come.