There was less than two weeks before the UFC was set to return to action with UFC 249, but then UFC 249 was canceled and future UFC events were postponed after UFC President Dana White was asked to stand down by Disney and ESPN.
White understands a lot of people, fighters and staff alike, are concerned about their financial future due to the craziness surrounding UFC 249 and the postponed cards, but White says he’ll do his best to take care of as many people as possible during this crisis.
“One other thing I really want to point out is: All of my fighters that are under contract with me, I want them to feel safe,” White said to Brett Okamoto of ESPN (via Farah Hannoun of MMA Junkie). “Take time with your families and enjoy this time. Don’t worry about the financial part of this. You’re going to get the fights on your contract and I’m going to make things right with the people who were willing to step up and fight next weekend on April 18. I’m going to take care of as many people as I possibly can and do whatever it takes to make all of these guys feel comfortable. All of my employees – nobody is getting laid off at the UFC. Everybody is good. We will be the first sport back. ‘Fight Island’ is real. It’s a real thing. The infrastructure is being built right now and that’s really going to happen. It will be on ESPN.”
White estimates that the “Fight Island” that is being built by the promotion should be ready for events in about one month's time, so the wait for the fans to see UFC action and for the fighters ready to earn a paycheck again may not be as long as many think.
