UFC 249 unfolded to mark the return of high-profile sports after a roughly two-month absence due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
"I want to congratulate Dana White and the UFC," Trump said in a taped message aired by sports broadcaster ESPN, referring to the UFC president who is also one of his economic advisers."
They're going to have a big match. We love it. We think it's important. Get the sports leagues back. Let's play. Do the social distancing and whatever else you have to do.
We need sports. We want our sports back. Congratulations to Dana White and UFC." According to one report, the cage floor and padding of the octagon where fights take place were regularly cleaned during Saturday night's proceedings. Many of those inside the stadium wore masks and gloves.
That didn't, though, include the referees, announcer and some other officials, the same report stated. Everyone had to be tested prior to entering the arena. UFC 249 took place with no fans Saturday due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. One middleweight, Jacare Souza, had his fight against Uriah Hall canceled Friday after testing positive for the virus.
White defended his decision to stage the event -- which was originally scheduled for New York in the middle of April -telling CNN last week it wasn't a "crazy" idea. "Listen, we have families, too," he said. "I have a family. I don't want to hurt my family. I don't want to die."
This isn't just some crazy...this is a well-thought-out plan. We've had very, very smart people, doctors and people that have been involved with the UFC for a very long time working on this thing nonstop since it started.
"We believe that we have this thing in a place where it can be as safe as it can possibly be."
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