The UFC just sent out this email out to
athletes and their teams for upcoming events: pic.twitter.com/oEc72YUY7B— Alex Scaffidi (@alexscaffidi_)
December 15, 2020
With COVID-19 cases rising throughout the United States and the UFC
losing increasingly more bouts due to positive tests, the promotion
has elected to implement more stringent bubble protocol ahead of
Saturday’s year-end event.
The policies, which were initially reported by Alex Scaffidi on
Twitter, relate primarily to transportation during the
athletes’ and coaches’ stay in Las Vegas during fight week. The
email is as follows:
The following applies to all athletes and corners participating
in UFC Fight Night on December 19th in Las Vegas. Please read this
information carefully. ***
“Use of Transportation During Fight Week
“To ensure the integrity of UFC’s Covid-19 testing and quarantine
protocols, no athlete or corner will be permitted to use any
vehicle not officially approved or arranged by UFC once the athlete
or corner has checked in for Fight Week. This includes personally
owned vehicles, rental vehicles, a friend’s vehicle, or ride share
vehicles, such as Uber or Lyft.
“This policy applies to ALL athletes and corners, including those
based in Las Vegas, as well as those based outside of Las
Vegas.
“In addition, any athlete or corner who leaves the hotel property
without coordinating with UFC Event Operations, including post
fight, will not be allowed back into the hotel.
“If an athlete or corner needs transportation for any reason during
Fight Week, including to go to the market, the UFC Performance
Institute, or UFC APEX, they must call (redacted) with UFC Event
Operations.
“Thank you in advance for your cooperation.”
Recent UFC “Embedded” episodes released prior to UFC 255 and UFC
256 seemed to
indicate that fighters had a certain measure of freedom to move
about freely in Las Vegas ahead of their bouts. However, it now
appears that the promotion will be cracking down and enforcing
stricter bubble policies.
The UFC has lost numerous fights in recent weeks due ot COVID-19
withdrawals. UFC 256 alone lost four originally scheduled bouts due
to the virus, while UFC on ESPN 19 one week prior saw at least
three fights canceled.
UFC Fight Night 183 has already lost a welterweight matchup
pitting Belal
Muhammad against Dhiego Lima
due to the coronavirus, as well.