Dana White Says Push to Begin Holding UFC Cards Again is “Very Expensive”

Ever since the coronavirus pandemic began impacting nations around the world, Dana White has insisted the UFC will find a way to host events. Well, now White is reporting he’s found a way the company can hold cards, but it sounds like doing so won’t be cheap.

White says he’s “figured out” how to hold UFC cards

In recent weeks, the UFC has been forced to postpone multiple cards on account of various restrictions that have been enacted to battle the coronavirus. Most recently, the UFC was forced to abandon plans to hold an April 18th card nearby Lemoore, California, after various officials spoke out against the promotion doing so.

Well, earlier this week, White reported that the UFC is working on holding a card on May 9th. While he didn’t say that card would be held at the Apex Facility in Las Vegas specifically, White also reported that the facility would be holding cards moving forward.

In a more recent interview with Kevin Harvick on his Sirius XM NASCAR Radio show, White said this (quotes via MMA Fighting).

“I was supposed to go this Saturday at Tachi Palace in northern California. I got it done. We could go,” White said.

“I was asked to not do the event from my partners [at ESPN], who I respect, so I did it.

I gave them the weekend off and I’m actually at the office right now. We’re back in here. We’re working. I have a date now for May 9.”

White also reportedly mentioned the Apex Facility again, while talking about plans to begin holding cards.

“Listen I’m not stopping,” White said. “I have this thing figured out. The reality is can it be done? Yes, it can be done.

It’s just very expensive. It’s very expensive and I’m willing to spend the money to do it.”

“I don’t sit around and wait for somebody to tell me it’s time to do this, it’s time to do that,” White said. “You’ve got to look ahead at what’s happening out there.

My commitment is to my employees and to my fighters. I don’t want lay anybody off and I don’t want fighters sitting around for a year not being able to make money but I want everybody to be safe.

“Instead of hiding from this thing, how do you get out there and figure out how to function yet be safe about it. My biggest problem with this whole thing is misinformation.

You read one thing here, you read something different over here. Nobody really knows what’s going on. It’s been a very strange thing to deal with.”

What’s contributing to the costs?

Now, when you consider the UFC is hoping to hold three title fights on the May 9th card, chances are the fighter purse tab for the event will be pretty high compared to most cards.

But, the additional costs could be tied to safety protocols the UFC is putting in place, in terms of funding for testing, additional medical precautions etc. the promotion will need to have ready.