One week after UFC 249 is UFC Fight Night Lincoln, which will feature Anthony Smith and Glover Teixeira headlining.
However, it would appear that UFC Fight Night Lincoln could be in jeopardy due to the city of Lincoln, Nebraska banning mass gatherings of ten-plus people due to the coronavirus.
The city has banned ?gatherings for any reason of more than 10 people in single spaces, including schools; fitness centers and gyms; auditoriums, stadiums and arenas; large event conference rooms and meeting halls; theaters; and libraries? are forbidden through Wednesday, May 6 ?unless renewed, extended, or terminated by subsequent order.?
Those bans went into effect today and will remain in effect until May 6, which is more than a week after UFC Fight Night Lincoln is supposed to happen.
Brian Dunn, who is a deputy athletic commissioner for the state of Nebraska, issued the following statement on the matter to Bloody Elbow:
?We will be working with local health departments to determine if scheduled events can proceed and, if so, what procedures need to be in place to protect both contestants and fans from COVID-19. The last 3 events had to be cancelled on the advice of local health departments, but the UFC event is still a ways out. We?ll continue to monitor the situation and make decisions in the interest of the health and safety of fighters, fans, and the public at large.
Going forward, we will need to at least look at the feasibility of COVID-19 testing. I like the idea, but currently COVID-19 testing kits need to be prioritized for high risk patients and take some time to get results. As they become more available, COVID-19 testing for MMA events might become a best practice. We?ll continue to rely on local health departments and compart sports medical experts (national and local) to provide us information this area.?
There has been no statement yet issued by the UFC on UFC Fight Night Lincoln potentially being in trouble due to the ban of mass gatherings.