Despite wanting to move ahead with planned events relocated to Las Vegas and the UFC Apex, the Nevada Athletic Commission is saying no.
According to a report by Mike Coppinger, the commission – meeting Saturday afternoon – will suspend all combat sports indefinitely due to COVID-19.
Sources: Nevada State Athletic Commission has suspended all combat sporting events indefinitely due to #COVIDー19. Canelo-Saunders can’t be scheduled until ban lifted. Affects UFC events relocated to APEX (March 28 & April 11) along with PBC (March 28) and Top Rank (April 11)
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) March 14, 2020
The decision includes now allowing the next Canelo Alvarez bout to be scheduled before it is lifted, along with two UFC events planned for March 28 and April 11.
UFC Fight Night 170 is currently going on now in Brazil, and the promotion is headed to London next week.
Premier Boxing Champions and Top Rank also have cared scheduled for March 28 and April 11.
The move does end a week before u, which is to take place in Brooklyn and feature Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson for the lightweight title.
Nevada Athletic Commission approves a motion for a revocation of all permits and programs of unarmed combat from March 14 through March 25.
— Adam Hill (@AdamHillLVRJ) March 14, 2020
NSAC executive director Bob Bennett has been assigned to provide recommendations to the commission on how to move forward at the March 25 meeting. Right now, all Nevada combat sports events are canceled until March 25.
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) March 14, 2020
Commission representatives declined to comment any further on any impact today’s emergency NSAC meeting might have on combat sports events in Nevada. They will address further on March 25.
— John Morgan (@JohnMorgan_MMA) March 14, 2020
To update, though, the UFC event planned for now is not under this suspension, according to Ariel Helwani:
NSAC just voted in favor to revoke all combat sports licenses until March 25. Currently, this doesn’t affect the UFC as their next Vegas event is on 3/28. The next hearing is on 3/25. Nothing else was voted on.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) March 14, 2020