UFC's return could provide blueprint for other pro leagues

UFC President Dana White wanted a major fight card weeks ago. He was confident his team could pull it off wher it took place on a tribal land, on a private island or in any of 10 states offering to host it.

Coronavirus testing. Fan-free arena. Social distancing. Self-isolation. White looked at all those unprecedented details that seemed too complex and too risky to some outsiders as merely extra challenges.

“I knew we could do this,” he said following UFC 249 on Saturday night. “I knew we could figure it out. Even with all hurdles that we h early on, this has been fun. It’s been challenging and it’s been fun.

“I kw that sounds a little demented to say I’ve h fun going through this. It’s been challenging and I’ve enjoyed whole game of it, if you will.”

White and UFC look like big winners following ir

NFL, NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball and NASCAR, all of m h to have an eye on how UFC approached and handled first major human-centric sporting event in U.S. since new coronavirus shuttered much of country nearly two months ago. UFC created a 25-p document to dress health and safety protocols, which included disinfecting octagon between bouts and mandating tests and masks for nearly everyone in attendance.

spotlight only intensified when one fighter,

Souza was pulled from fight and removed from hotel where hundreds of UFC employees are staying this week. UFC’s medical team continues to provide assistance and is helping with necessary treatment, White said.

UFC has two more fight nights scheduled this week in Jacksonville, beginning Wednesday, and plans to minister more than 1,000 more coronavirus tests for everyone scheduled to take part.

“However it was handled this week, this was our first week,” White said. “It will only get better. And we can share what we learned here doing three events with or sports leagues who are reaching out to us and asking.

“A lot can be learned by what we’re doing here. t just for professional sports but for sending people back to work and lot of or things in life.”

White said he never considered postponing UFC 249 following Souza’s positive test and got support from Florida Athletic Commission, goverr and local authorities.

show went on and, by most accounts, got rave reviews.

Justin Gaethje stunned Tony Ferguson in main event, earning a TKO in a lightweight bout that set winner up to fight titleholder Khabib Nurmagomedov next. Henry Cejudo, with blood gushing from his he and dripping down his chest, defended his bantamweight title against Dominick Cruz and n anunced his retirement.

Heavyweight contender Francis Nganu pummeled his fourth straight opponent, this one in 20 seconds. Former NFL defensive end Greg Hardy won for sixth time in eight fights. And former welterweight champion and fan favorite Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone lost on undercard, his fourth consecutive defeat.

About only negative was empty arena, where punches, kicks, grunts, steps, trash talk, corner coaching and TV commentary echoed off metal beams and vacant seats.

“It was weird,” White conceded. “re’s so many things that you love about live sports, wher you’re home, in a bar or re live. One of big, key components to live sports are group of people that you’re with and energy that you get when cool things happen.

“Tonight was an amazing event, but that was definitely missing tonight, se moments. … It’s all part of what makes this so great.”

Finding a way to recreate those missing moments could be next challenge, one White surely would welcome as long as show goes on.

“We’re still figuring this whole thing out,” he said. "This was first one. It was a success. Wednesday will be better. Saturday will be better than that.”