The UFC returns to action in just a few short hours with UFC 249, which is going to be headlined by Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje battling for the vacant UFC Interim Lightweight Title.
There has been both positive and negative responses from the world as to the forthcoming return of the UFC during the coronavirus pandemic.
However, if there is a group that may be trying to get UFC 249 canceled, it apparently is the MMA media, as UFC President Dana White is accusing to MMA media of doing just that.
?The media calling, hammering these guys (Florida State Boxing Commission), ?how can you let this event happen?,? White said during the UFC 249 virtual media scrum (via Lewis Mckeever of Bloody Elbow). ?Media who f-cking cover this sport. And I?m like, wait till they start getting laid off, right? If I can pull this off safely and everybody can still work, you guys can still have a sport to cover. You?ve got the guys that cover the NFL. You?ve got the guys that cover Major League Baseball. You?ve got the guys that cover the NBA, and then you?ve got the guys that cover MMA. Who do you think?s going first? I promise you it?s not the f-cking NFL guys, okay. I?m trying get this thing going and put on fights, and the guys who are supposed to be covering this sport, are calling and hammering the athletic commissions and the venues. I just can?t wrap my brain around that one.?
White did not mention any specific members of the MMA media that allegedly tried to get tonight?s event canceled.
A serious situation surrounding the event did break late last night, as Ronaldo Souza tested positive for the coronavirus. However, his bout was pulled from the card, plus Souza and the fighter?s cornermen have been taken to an undisclosed location to isolate while having the virus.
UFC 249 takes place tonight from the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida with Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.