The UFC returns this weekend with UFC 249, which is going to be headlined by former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion Tony Ferguson facing former WSOF Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje for the vacant UFC Interim Lightweight Title.
UFC 249 is moving forward during the coronavirus pandemic and UFC Executive VP Of Operation & Production Craig Borsari told ESPN about the additional safety measures in place for the event.
Those safety measures are:
- All members of the broadcast team will get seated in separate locations around the Octagon.
- There will be no interviews conducted with fight winners inside of the Octagon, as winners will instead get interviewed at an isolated area outside of the Octagon.
- The production crew has been reduced to approximately 50 people, as the usual production crew ranges from 80 to 130 people. Those who have to work in the production truck will get separated by plastic partitions, while others will work from mobile locations.
- All fighters, cornermen and other essential personnel will get tested for the coronavirus.
- All fighters will get individual workout rooms in the hotel, while social distancing will get implemented during the weigh-ins.
- The promotion will work with the Florida State Boxing Commission (FSBC) for all three events over the next week, with the protocol remaining similar for all the shows.
