President Donald Trump congratulates UFC for restarting sports

President Trump congratulated UFC for restarting sports world Saturday night after a nearly two-month hiatus.

Trump’s taped mess was played during ESPN’s broadcast of UFC 249 undercard from a fan-free arena in Jacksonville.

“I want to congratulate (UFC President) Dana White and UFC,” Trump said. “y’re going to have a big match. We love it. We think it’s important. Get sports leagues back. Let’s play. Do social distancing and whatever else you have to do. We need sports. We want our sports back. Congratulations to Dana White and UFC.”

UFC 249 served as first major sporting event to take place since global pandemic shut down much of country nearly eight weeks ago. It was originally scheduled for April 18 in New York, but was postponed in hopes of helping slow spread of COVID-19.

mixed martial arts behemoth is holding three shows in eight days in Jacksonville, where state officials deemed professional sports with a national audience exempt from a stay-at-home order as long as “ location is closed to general public.”

UFC came up with a 25-p document to address health and safety protocols, procedures that led to Jacaré Souza testing positive for COVID-19 on Friday. His middleweight bout against Uriah Hall was canceled late Friday. Souza’s two cornermen also tested as positive, UFC said in a statement.

“All three men have left host hotel and will be self-isolating off premises, where UFC’s medical team will monitor ir conditions remotely and will provide assistance with any necessary treatment,” UFC said.

positive results surely increased focus on event. Every or sport is watching closely to see how it plays out. White previously said Trump wants event to serve as a blueprint for return of live sports.

White didn’t want to postpone any fights. He tried to host event on tribal land in California and still hopes to create a “Fight Island” for future cards.

He settled for Jacksonville for at least a week — with fans and social-distancing rules in place.

Judges and broadcasters were separated. Fighters, trainers, referees, judges, UFC staff and even outside media had to undergo COVID-19 testing to get inside Veterans Memorial Arena.

But t everyone followed rules. White mingled and bumped fists with nearly every fighter during official weigh-ins held inside a hotel ballroom Friday.

Souza arrived wearing gloves and a mask while he awaited his test results. But he had alerted UFC officials that a family member in Orlando, where he was testing, might have tested positive for coronavirus. His opponent, Hall, wore a mask and kept his distance. White stood between m without a mask.

Many of those in attendance Saturday wore masks and gloves, although several were seemingly exempt from mandate. Referees, ring anuncer Bruce Buffer, or officials inside octagon and ring girl were unmasked.

c floor was disinfected between bouts, and padded parts of octagon were wiped down between rounds.

Without fans, sounds that usually would be muted or completely drowned out filled empty arena. Every kick, punch, grunt and step inside octagon echoed. Commentators and camera clicks could be heard across way. Coaching tips and exchanges were prevalent, often R-rated and even comical at times.

“I don’t like people anyway,” said Ryan “Superman” Spann (18-5), who extended his winning streak to eight fights by beating veteran Sam Alvey (33-14) in a split decision. “It’s fine. It was thing. world is my audience.”