UFC Boss Promises Testing at Events; ARP Urges Postponement of All Combat Sports

While the world’s premiere mixed martial arts organization is planning to resume operations on April 18, another organization has issued a recommendation that all combat sports be postponed for the foreseeable future.

The board of directors for the Association of Ringside Physicians (ARP) released a statement advising against combat sports being held during the coronavirus pandemic. ARP claims that anyone involved in the event is “under unnecessary risk of infection and transmission of COVID-19,” regardless of the number of people present during a competition. The recommendation also points out that combat sports athletes frequently require medical attention after their bouts, which could be an issue as hospitals deal with an influx of coronavirus patients during the global pandemic.

Meanwhile, a full card has been unveiled for UFC 249, which is slated to take place on April 18 at an undisclosed location in the United States. UFC president Dana White also revealed that the promotion is in the process of securing a private island to hold bouts for international athletes that can’t make it into the U.S. due to travel restrictions.

While White hasn’t gone into specifics regarding safety measures for upcoming events, he did say everyone involved will be tested for coronavirus.

“Everybody is gonna be pre-tested and tested and tested and tested,” White told TMZ Sports. “We’re gonna make sure that [we have] 100 percent healthy athletes, healthy athletic commission people, healthy judges, referees, my production people — that everybody there is gonna be healthy. We’re gonna make sure that everybody is gonna be safe before, during and after the fights.”

The full ARP statement is as follows:

The Association of Ringside Physicians has been actively following the recommendations of the CDC as well as other professional medical societies concerned with the spread of COVID-19, or novel coronavirus.

Sporting events across the world have been cancelled in response to the increased risk of infection and transmission by participants, fans, officials, and support staff. It is our recommendation that all combat sporting events be postponed until further notice. This includes any and all events, regardless of the number of people involved. Any combat sport taking place during this global pandemic places the athletes, officials, and anyone else involved in the event under unnecessary risk of infection and transmission of Covid-19. In addition, combat sports athletes often require medical attention after a bout, and we do not wish to see any additional strain on an already overwhelmed medical system.

We continue to monitor this ever-evolving situation, and our thoughts continue to be with those who have been and will be affected by this disease.

Our organization remains steadfast in our mission: to serve, protect, and educate all involved in combative sports.