MMA
Dana White remains tight-lipped about coronavirus testing for UFC 249 fighters
As far as UFC president Dana White is concerned, the logistics surrounding UFC 249 is going to remain a mystery whether the media and public likes it or not.
The other big issue surrounding the proposed event is if fighters would be tested for the coronavirus, as there are over 440,000 confirmed cases and nearly 20,000 deaths worldwide. In the United States, there are over 55,000 confirmed cases with almost 800 deaths.
When asked by Yahoo Sports if testing for UFC 249 participants will occur, White refused to answer and put the onus on reporters and the public for making the global pandemic a bigger deal than it needs to be.
"The less the media knows, the better," White said. "Let me just put it to you this way: A lot of this hysteria has been driven by the media. The less the media knows, the better off it is.
"We will make sure we take care of everybody like we always do. I'm not giving the public and the media all kinds of information on what I'm doing, but I'm not acting like some crazy rebel out here with the coronavirus. I've done everything I've been told to do."
After not giving a definitive answer to the question, White was pressed to divulge more details. White refused to budge and continued to say everyone associated with the event would get proper medical care.
"When my fighters and my people are with me, they're getting the best medical attention they could possibly get if they're alone or if they're home or if they work for somebody else," White continued. "Everybody that's with me will get the best medical attention possible. The less media and the public know … you don't need to know. It's none of your business."
On Monday, White told Yahoo Sports that UFC 249 will happen and be a closed-door event but wouldn't reveal the location. White said they have a couple of places inside and outside the United States, which DAZN News has confirmed.
The UFC executive and his family are self-quarantining right now in their Las Vegas home. White has been criticized for wanting to continue to hold events when the rest of the sports world has either postponed or canceled their events or seasons to ensure that people are social distancing.
Providing tests to the athletes who are slated to compete at UFC 249 would be an important precaution, but receiving testing kits has been difficult for state governments.
White isn't looking at it that way and is taking the stance of whatever is going to happen is going to happen.
"Whether you're a coronavirus expert or not, it's like hiding from cancer," he said. "You can't hide from this thing. You can't hide. If you are a high-risk person, this thing's going to get you. What's going to happen next flu season? This thing's going to disappear? No, it's going to come back, just like the flu. And if it's what's going to get you, it's gonna get you. So I've had a great run. If the coronavirus is what's going to get me, let's do it. Bring it. I'm ready corona — come get me."
