President Trump congratulated UFC for restarting the sports activities world Saturday evening after a virtually two-month hiatus.
Trump’s taped message was performed throughout ESPN’s broadcast of the UFC 249 undercard from a fan-free area in Jacksonville.
“I wish to congratulate (UFC President) Dana White and the UFC,” Trump mentioned. “They’re going to have an enormous match. We find it irresistible. We expect it’s essential. Get the sports activities leagues again. Let’s play. Do the social distancing and no matter else you need to do. We want sports activities. We wish our sports activities again. Congratulations to Dana White and UFC.”
UFC 249 served as the primary main sporting occasion to happen for the reason that world pandemic shut down a lot of the nation almost eight weeks in the past. It was initially scheduled for April 18 in New York, however was postponed in hopes of serving to gradual the unfold of COVID-19.
The combined martial arts behemoth is holding three reveals in eight days in Jacksonville, the place state officers deemed skilled sports activities with a nationwide viewers exempt from a stay-at-home order so long as “the placement is closed to most of the people.”
The UFC got here up with a 25-page doc to handle well being and security protocols, procedures that led to Jacaré Souza testing constructive for COVID-19 on Friday. His middleweight bout towards Uriah Corridor was canceled late Friday. Souza’s two cornermen additionally examined as constructive, the UFC mentioned in an announcement.
“All three males have left the host lodge and will probably be self-isolating off premises, the place UFC’s medical staff will monitor their circumstances remotely and can present help with any needed remedy,” the UFC mentioned.
The constructive outcomes certainly elevated the give attention to the occasion. Each different sport is watching carefully to see the way it performs out. White beforehand mentioned Trump desires the occasion to function a blueprint for the return of reside sports activities.
White didn’t wish to postpone any fights. He tried to host the occasion on tribal land in California and nonetheless hopes to create a “Combat Island” for future playing cards.
He settled for Jacksonville for not less than per week — with no followers and social-distancing guidelines in place.
Judges and broadcasters had been separated. Fighters, trainers, referees, judges, UFC employees and even outdoors media needed to endure COVID-19 testing to get inside Veterans Memorial Enviornment.
However not everybody adopted the principles. White mingled and bumped fists with almost each fighter throughout official weigh-ins held inside a lodge ballroom Friday.
Souza arrived carrying gloves and a masks whereas he awaited his check outcomes. However he had alerted UFC officers {that a} member of the family in Orlando, the place he was testing, may need examined constructive for the coronavirus. His opponent, Corridor, wore a masks and saved his distance. White stood between them and not using a masks.
A lot of these in attendance Saturday wore masks and gloves, though a number of had been seemingly exempt from the mandate. Referees, ring announcer Bruce Buffer, different officers contained in the octagon and the ring lady had been unmasked.
The cage ground was disinfected between bouts, and the padded components of the octagon had been wiped down between rounds.
With out followers, sounds that normally could be muted or fully drowned out stuffed the empty area. Each kick, punch, grunt and step contained in the octagon echoed. Commentators and digital camera clicks might be heard throughout the best way. Teaching suggestions and exchanges had been prevalent, usually R-rated and even comical at occasions.
“I don’t like individuals anyway,” mentioned Ryan “Superman” Spann, who received a victory within the opening bout. “It’s nice. It was nothing. The world is my viewers.”
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