UFC president Dana White vowed his sport would be the first back in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, and he is true to his word.
This Saturday, UFC 249 will take place in the United States after the global pandemic forced several changes to the card and venue.
It is not without its controversy, with some branding it a publicity stunt – boxing promoter Bob Arum called it “cowboy behaviour” from White.
And White has admitted arranging UFC 249 in Florida was the “hardest thing he’s ever tried to do”.
But he has pulled it off and Tony Ferguson will face fellow American Justin Gaethje in the first of three shows in eight days, all without fans, in Jacksonville.
White also plans to host international fights on a private island, with the location and dates yet to be confirmed.
UFC insist they have a “comprehensive health and safety gameplan” in place to lead the way in the return of live sport.
UFC 249 was originally scheduled for Brooklyn, headlined by Ferguson and lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov – UFC’s most eagerly anticipated fight.
Two million pay-per-view buys were expected, but with Russian Nurmagomedov unable to leave his country, the match-up had to be cancelled for a fifth time, with Gaethje stepping in.
White kept the date as 18 April but the state of New York and then Nevada ruled out venues. Then a bid to bypass California state guidelines by staging the event on tribal land was scuppered by Disney, owners of UFC broadcasters ESPN.
But a new date and venue were announced on 24 April, sanctioned by the Florida State Boxing Commission.
“Dana’s driving force is nothing new to people in the sport,” said BBC commentator Dan Hardy. “He took UFC and made it what it is now.
“I admire him for that determination to get things up and running, and I appreciate it because I can’t wait to watch these fights.”
Ferguson, 36, is on a 12-fight winning streak and 31-year-old Gaethje is also a top-four-ranked lightweight. The winner is expected to face the unbeaten Nurmagomedov later this year.
Gaethje called it the biggest fight of his life, adding: “It will be a war, and the people will love it.”
Former bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz returns after three years out to face defending champ Henry Cejudo, while top-six heavyweights Francis Ngannou and Jairzinho Rozenstruik also meet.
Donald Cerrone, beaten by Conor McGregor at UFC 246, takes on fellow fans’ favourite Anthony Pettis at welterweight, while former women’s strawweight champion Carla Esparza faces Michelle Waterson.
Despite having to train in isolation, ex-UFC fighter Hardy feels it is easier for them to stay ready to compete than athletes in other sports.
MMA is a lifestyle, so I think every one of these fighters will have stayed in shape,” he said.
“As for the technical stuff, everyone on this card has been fighting for a while – so they know their game, they know their skills. It’s not like they’re unprepared.”
