Local UFC event on tap for Saturday after commission approves fight cards

By Case Keefer (contact)

Wednesday, May 27, 2020 | 10:20 a.m.

Combat sports are officially allowed to return to the fight capital of the world.

In a virtual meeting Wednesday morning, the Nevada State Athletic Commission approved both mixed martial arts and boxing events to go on without crowds, starting immediately. The UFC will re-open Nevada’s live sports lineup after a two-month hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic with cards scheduled for each of the next two Saturdays at the promotion’s Apex facility.

“Throughout this process, we’ve been working hand-in-glove with the UFC,” said Bob Bennett, executive director of the NSAC. “I’m aware of their operations plans and everything is moving according to their operation plans and our protocols.”

Boxing will follow shortly after, as the commission also gave the green light to a pair of Top Rank events scheduled at MGM Grand on June 9 and June 11.

The UFC has a full card arranged for Saturday’s ESPN broadcast — former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley will headline in a bout against Gilbert Burns — and a main event for next weekend’s UFC 250 — a women’s featherweight title fight between Amanda Nunes and Felicia Spencer. Top Rank has not yet announced any of their fights, but they’re also expected to be aired on ESPN or ESPN+.

Bouts should be revealed shortly, but it’s more of a work-in-progress with boxing.

"I’ve been reviewing their operations plan,” Bennett said. “They’re still in the process of competing it. It’s very comprehensive. We’re moving in the right direction. I’m pleased to see we’re all working in concert with a closed system event and I expect it to be very successful.”

The UFC had a head start by virtue of holding three fight cards earlier this month in Jacksonville, Fla. — a pay-per-view, an ESPN card and an ESPN+ event. The promotion independently acquired thousands of coronavirus testing kits and applied them liberally to fighters, teams and other essential personnel on hand at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.

One fighter, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, and two of his cornermen did test positive ahead of a planned UFC 249 bout. The UFC was able to move all three away from the host hotel and care from them at another location without infecting anyone else on the premises.

“The bottom line is the system worked,” UFC President Dana White told ESPN.

“We can share what we learned here with other sports leagues, who are reaching out and asking.”

The UFC initially wanted to hold closed-to-the-public events at Apex throughout March and April but were thwarted by Governor Steve Sisolak’s statewide shutdown. White nearly put on a pay-per-view on California tribal land, where state athletic commissions have no jurisdiction, in April before ESPN and parent company Disney intervened and asked him to stand down.

All throughout, the UFC has worked towards a resolution with Nevada. Sisolak put the wheels in motion for a return Tuesday night as part of his Phase 2 plan, appointing the commission with the power to approve events.

“Live performances and live performers will not be allowed with spectators,” Sisolak’s statement read. “However, certain events will be allowed under specific restrictions for the purpose of broadcasting or live streaming.”

UFC’s plans currently call for fighters and their teams to be tested twice before events, once when arriving to Las Vegas and checking into a quarantined hotel and again after weighing in the day before the fight. Those protocols could change, but the NSAC was confident enough in them for the time being.

“This is a fluid situation,” said Anthony Marnell, NSAC chairman. “We will be ready to move and change with it as we always have.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.