[ad_1]
The UFC launched a line under pressure from UFC 249 on Thursday, the hotly contested event that the American martial arts organization wanted to keep on an Indian reservation in California next Saturday.
“We got a call today from Disney’s top bosses and ESPN’s top bosses, and the powerful people there asked me not to hold the event on April 18,” said UFC chief Dana White. ESPN. He also reports that his union has closed all games until further notice.
Disney owns ESPN, the sports channel that made an exclusive agreement with the UFC last year for pay-per-event rights to the battles of the MMA association. UFC 249 is also said to be broadcast via ESPN.
White has received much criticism in the United States in recent weeks, because the UFC was the last major sporting organization to continue to host games in the crown crisis. The events of March 21, March 28, and April 11 were finally canceled, but White did his best to continue with UFC 249.
UFC chief Dana White. (Photo: Pro Photos)
UFC 249 took place on Indian reservation
The UFC chief reported Monday that he had found a private island where athletes from outside the United States could fight. Then it was announced Wednesday that UFC 249 would be held at the Tachi Palace Casino Resort.
That complex is located near the city of Fresno, California, on land owned by the Tachi Yokut tribe, a native people of North America. The California State Athletic Commission has canceled all sports in the state until the end of May, but Indian reservations do not apply those rules.
Despite this, California politicians continued to pressure the UFC to cancel next Saturday’s event. California Senator Dianne Feinstein said in a statement Thursday that she was “concerned” about reports that UFC 249 would continue. “That is not the right decision now.”
White finally decided to put on a tarp. “It has been a fight from the beginning,” said the UFC chief, who promised his fans that there will soon be fights again. “We will come back first. And when the world returns to normal, there will be a great fight at the Tachi Palace.”
Follow the latest news about the virus in the world of sports in us live blog.
