With each passing hour, it becomes increasingly clear the UFC is going to have to develop detailed backup plans for its upcoming schedule due to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.
Hours after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced a ban on large gatherings in his state is forthcoming, which will affect UFC on ESPN 8 in Columbus scheduled for March 28, Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 28 also is in doubt.
The card, which is scheduled to be held at the Nilson Nelson Gymnasium in Brasilia, Brazil, could be canceled after Gov. Ibaneis Rocha declared Wednesday a ban on all large gatherings in response to the outbreak of coronavirus in the country’s capital.
The ban includes masses and other religious services, concerts, private and public schools, sporting events and any event with more than 100 people.
There have been two confirmed cases of coronavirus in Brasilia. The ban will run until Monday.
A lightweight matchup between Kevin Lee and Charles Oliveira is scheduled to headline UFC on ESPN+ 28.
MMA Junkie reached out to UFC officials to get a response to the newly announced ban, but the promotion has yet to respond or comment on the matter.
According to Brazil’s Combate, the company is pondering the feasibility of proceeding with the show in an empty arena without fans.
In addition to the cards in Columbus and Brazil, other events on the upcoming UFC calendar include London on March 21; Portland, Ore., on April 11; and UFC 249, with the highly anticipated lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson, on April 18 in the New York City borough of Brooklyn.
Sports leagues across the country from the NBA to the NHL are wrestling with how to handle their response to the virus. The NCAA has been the most proactive among sports authorities. It announced Wednesday the men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments will proceed behind closed doors.
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