TWO weeks ago, the Ultimate Fighting Championship quietly returned. And I mean that literally. Quietly because there were no fans in attendance for UFC 249. No boisterous cheers to complement Justin Gaethje’s shocking upset of Tony Ferguson.
No “oohs” and “aahs” to Henry Cejudo’s TKO of Dominick Cruz. No loud hurrahs for Francis Ngannou’s stunning knockout of Jairzinho Rozenstruk in the first round. Actually it sounded kind of eerie to listen to a hushed silence after every spectacular finish.
UFC. With that event under wraps, the UFC became the first major organization to hold a live sports event during the pandemic. But it was not without a hitch. Less than 24 hours before it started, Ronaldo Souza tested positive for Covid-19 and consequently his bout with Uriah Hall had to be cancelled.
Welcome to the new fight sports normal.
COMING EVENTS. Already, the UFC’s next two events have officially been approved. Reportedly, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) has approved both events to be held at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas with no fans in attendance.
The NSAC also approved two Top Rank boxing events. The first will be on June 9 and features Shakur Stevenson vs. Felix Caraballo. However, Top Rank’s Covid-19 plan is not done yet and still needs to be reviewed and approved.
CONTROVERSY. These Covid-19 protocols will be a continuing issue. In the case of UFC 249, commentator Joe Rogan shook hands with the fighters during the post-fight interview.
UFC president Dana White seated at front row noticeably did not wear a mask. Neither did the commentators who stood side by side at the start of the broadcast.
Then there was the controversy about the legal waiver they introduced to minimize their legal risk. The controversy came about because the waiver prevents any criticism to be made about the coronavirus protocols that were in place for the event.
The waiver also stated that fighters could not hold the UFC liable if they ended up with “severe and permanent damage to health” and other outcomes “not limited to death, fever, weight loss, irreversible pulmonary, respiratory, and/or neurological system damage, mental or emotional distress, temporary or permanent disability, loss of income, loss of employment, loss of financial or other opportunities, medical expenses, which may or may not be covered by insurance, cleaning expenses, mandatory self-quarantine, loss of licenses.”
And not only that. This waiver was required to be signed by not only UFC fighters and staff but also all media members in attendance.
The lawyer in me wants to pick apart the legal jargon but since this is a sports column in the sports pages I would rather not.
Suffice it to say that Covid protocols will be part of the new normal and will be another issue to be dealt with in addition to the purse negotiations, venue preferences and other promotional considerations.
LAST ROUND. It’s on the late Arturo Sayson, father of my good friends, Sigfred and Homer as loving wife Nang Linda and the rest of the family commemorate his ninth death anniversary tomorrow. Wherever you are Nong, you are in a better place. Cheers!