UFC 249 is currently set for Saturday, April 18 from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, but that event could now be in jeopardy due to the coronavirus.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo of New York announced earlier today that there is now a ban of most gatherings of more than 500 people.
The New York Times posted the following on the matter:
New York bans most gatherings of more than 500 people, including at Broadway shows.
New York will ban most gatherings of more than 500 people, including at Broadway shows, and restrict smaller gatherings in an extraordinary step to fight the growing outbreak of the coronavirus in the state, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Thursday.
Although the UFC 249 event is not mentioned specifically by the governor, it would obviously draw more than 500 people, unless the event is changed to a behind closed doors card, in which no fans would be allowed to attend the event.
There has been no statement yet from the UFC as to the status of UFC 249 or any other potential options surrounding the card.
This is the third UFC card affected by the coronavirus, as UFC Fight Night Brasilia has been impacted by a similar ban and UFC Fight Night Columbus could be moving from Columbus, Ohio to Las Vegas, Nevada.
UFC 249 is scheduled for April 18, so there is more than a month until the event as of this writing, meaning a lot of things can change between now and then.