UFC limit travels on struggle 7 days to ‘ensure the integrity’ of COVID-19 protocols
The UFC has tightened COVID-19 protocols to safeguard athletes from possible COVID-19 publicity on battle 7 days.
The struggle advertising just lately executed new travel restrictions to “ensure the integrity of UFC’s testing and protocols,” limiting where by and how fighters and their groups can vacation right after they get there in Las Vegas, the promotion’s house and its foundation of operations given that restarting its event timetable.
The new plan was initially disclosed by Twitter user Alex Scaffidi. MMA Combating verified it with two business veterans who depict UFC fighter and acquired the see.
“To be certain the integrity of UFC’s [COVID-19] tests and quarantine protocols, no athlete or corner will be permitted to use any automobile not officially accredited or organized by UFC once the athlete or corner has checked in for Struggle 7 days,” the detect states. “This incorporates individually owned motor vehicles, rental autos, a friend’s car, or trip share autos, these types of as Uber or Lyft.
“This policy applies to ALL athletes and corners, like people dependent in Las Vegas, as well as those primarily based exterior of Las Vegas.
“In addition, any athlete or corner who leaves the resort home without coordinating with UFC Function Functions, together with publish battle, will not be allowed back into the resort.
“If an athlete or corner needs transportation for any motive all through Struggle Week, such as to go to the marketplace, the UFC Effectiveness Institute, or UFC APEX, they need to get in touch with [name redacted] with UFC Occasion Operations.
“Thank you in progress for your cooperation.”
Veteran UFC strawweight Tecia Torres spoke to reporters following UFC 256 about the limits on fighters’ motion in advance of the function at UFC APEX, the promotion’s reside event facility. The move arrives as the place confronts a surge of COVID-19 cases that’s led to a large uptick in fatalities and infections. Constructive COVID-19 conditions have considerably altered a number of UFC struggle cards with quite a few fighters testing beneficial on fight working day.
In the previous iteration of the UFC’s COVID-19 protocols, fighters arriving in Las Vegas had been necessary to quarantine in their hotel rooms right until they received the final results of their initial COVID-19 examination. Afterward, nevertheless, they ended up permitted to go about usual struggle 7 days proceedings, and there have been no precise limits on their movement in the time amongst their initially adverse check and a 2nd exam administered subsequent weigh-ins on Friday, which activated another quarantine right until they were transported to the UFC APEX.
Prior to UFC 255, several fighters were viewed at locations all-around Las Vegas, increasing thoughts of irrespective of whether they could potentially have been uncovered to the virus, even though COVID-19’s incubation period may have dominated out a constructive in the remaining check with an normal of 5 days just before the virus builds up to detectable concentrations.
UFC President Dana White has defended the promotion’s managing of safety more than the COVID-19 virus.
“This matter is f*ckin wacky and you do the finest you can,” he reported immediately after a fighter had many damaging assessments on combat 7 days in advance of a optimistic. “We’re undertaking all the things the appropriate way and, who is familiar with with this point? No one has been equipped to get this thing figured out but. We’ve been stable.”