🥊 Dana White Is On An Island

A decade ago, White predicted the UFC would be the world’s biggest sport. And at this moment in time, he could end up being right. [View in browser]( In today’s FOX Sports Insider: Dana White’s insistence that the fights will go on, combined with his ability to make it happen, has UFC in an interesting place ... the Bundesliga takes the first steps toward a return to play ... and our Jay Glazer gets a chance to chat with Bucs coach Bruce Arians, who probably has a few things to talk about these days. It was a little over a decade ago, just a few days from when 2009 rolled into 2010, that Dana White made one of his boldest and most bombastic claims. Even back then, the president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship was known for talking big, but this was a doozy. “UFC will be the biggest sport in the world,” White told the Las Vegas Sun. When? “By 2020.” [STORY IMAGE 1] Well, 2020 is here, and is already locked in as a year we will never forget. And, over the next couple of months, there is a chance that White’s prediction, in a certain sense and partly by default, will come true. For in the absence of virtually every other form of meaningful athletic competition, the UFC appears set to not only resume combat, but to actually ramp up its event schedule. For a while, at least, the UFC may become the biggest sport on earth, because all others have their gates locked and bolted. Plenty of people think the UFC should also have its doors closed until the COVID-19 crisis reaches a more manageable level. White, needless to say, is not one of them. Ever since three of his organization’s events were called off due to public safety fears and state athletic commission enforcement, he has sought an alternative. As of now, it seems he has found one. According to independent [mixed martial arts journalist Jeff Sherwood]( and [a later report by the New York Times]( White is planning to stage multiple events over the coming weeks at the Tachi Palace Casino Resort near Lemoore, Calif., about 45 minutes’ drive south of Fresno. [STORY IMAGE 2] The casino has been closed for the past three weeks. However, because it is on Native American-protected land belonging to the Tachi-Yokut tribe, it is bound by neither California’s official stay-at-home order nor the auspices of the California State Athletic Commission, which has blocked all fight events until June. “This place where this fight is going to be on Apr. 18, I have locked up for two months, so I’m going to continue to pump fights out,” White told ESPN. The Apr. 18 date is when White plans to stage UFC 249, a significant pay-per-view card that was originally poised to be headlined by the long-awaited showdown between lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson. With Nurmagomedov stuck in Russia due to a border lockdown, Ferguson will now take on big-hitting Justin Gaethje, part of a 12-fight bout sheet. For fights that were due to be held internationally, White claims to have secured a private island, possibly in international waters, where fighters can be flown in and out and where sanctioning issues would presumably be moot. [STORY IMAGE 3] When White said the UFC would take over the planet all those years ago, he meant it. His belief was based on the fact that American football, despite the National Football League’s enormous popularity in the United States, remains behind soccer in terms of public interest in most other countries. But “we all ‘get’ fighting,” White reasoned. It is a little spooky that White picked out 2020 as the year when the UFC would ascend to the peak of sports, though he likely selected it as a nice round number roughly 10 years into the future from his time of prognostication. As things stand, the UFC has indeed exploded in popularity and was sold to the entertainment giant now known as Endeavor for $4 billion in 2016. It boasts a passionate and engaged fan base, but under normal circumstances, it is not the top sport in the world, not by a long shot. What White has conjured is an opportunity to be in the spotlight when other sports simply have no options open to them. The NBA can’t operate, nor can the NHL. Major League Baseball is reportedly trying to navigate a logistical jungle to find enterprising ways to put on games. Even sports like golf which operate in wide open spaces are impacted by the ongoing rules around groups congregating in public. The NFL can stage its Draft remotely, but dodged a bullet when the Super Bowl concluded just weeks before the pandemic exploded. [STORY IMAGE 4] As sports shut down all around him, White refused to accept he was out of options, an approach that is partly admirable and, in truth, partly unsettling. America needs entertainment, no question. But do we need it this badly? White’s argument is that his athletes are in prime condition and want to earn themselves a paycheck, and that putting on entertainment is good for both the morale and the economy of the country. On the flip side, MMA, by its nature, is essentially the opposite of social distancing. Regardless of your stance, it is time to get used to the fact that UFC 249 and more bouts are going to take place. Is this the first step towards a return to sporting normalcy, or an ill-conceived plan with the potential to backfire? We will see, but Dana White is not backing down. For now, in the weirdest way possible, his prediction — kind of — is about to come true. [STORY IMAGE 5] Here’s what others have said ... Justin Gaethje, UFC fighter (via TMZ Sports): “Every time I’ve ever fought, there’s never been this many unknowns, much less the unknowns that we’re dealing with right now. It’s really a terrifying moment, and I’m talking about the competition side. I know what I’m facing. Tony has been getting ready to Khabib Nurmagomedov to fight for a world title for the last three, four, or five months. I don’t know how long. It doesn’t matter, but it’s perfect, because I always think they’re working harder. I always think they’re better than me. I always think they’re luckier than me, and I love to face adversity. I’m facing my fears right now, and I think that’s what we all need to do.” Dana White (via ESPN): “Everybody felt that if Conor [McGregor] was going to get a shot at Khabib, that actually Gaethje should get it before Conor. [So] you get Gaethje vs. Tony. It’s the fight that makes sense. It’s two of the top guys in the world. Khabib is out, so the winner will face Khabib. Conor really wants that rematch with Khabib. Well, Khabib and Tony or Gaethje won’t fight now until probably September. This is one of those things you can’t predict or see coming. It happened, but we’re rolling with it, and we’re going to get it figured out.” Ken Pishna, MMA Weekly : “At the end of the day, though [White] has been able to keep UFC 249 on the schedule for April 18, it just wasn’t possible to keep Khabib vs. Ferguson at the top of the bill. He has instead had to shift gears and pit Ferguson against fellow contender Justin Gaethje for an interim championship. Meanwhile, Nurmagomedov is parked in Russia, taking flack from many critics for the most anticipated lightweight fight of all time falling through the cracks for the fifth time. White, however, insists that it was not Nurmagomedov’s fault that he ended up in Russia on lockdown, while UFC 249 is expected to move forward at an undisclosed location in the United States: ‘He ended up getting flown back to Russia. He didn't fly back to Russia; he got flown back to Russia.’” [IN OTHER WORDS] - NFL teams will have to lean on data more than ever in this year’s Draft. On that note, [NFL.com’s Cynthia Frelund analyzes]( the best fits for the top 5 receivers in the draft and how many wins they might add to their new team. - With players back practicing, the Bundesliga is set to become the first of Europe’s major leagues to return to action. [At The New York Times, Tariq Panja lays out]( the potential timeline and how teams are preparing. - The Lakers, 76ers, and Bucks could create a Chris Paul bidding war this offseason, [CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn argues]( — assuming the Thunder look to shop the veteran point guard, that is. [THE INTERNET IS UNDEFEATED] [THE INTERNET IS UNDEFEATED]( It’s been a week of jersey unveilings in the NFL. First, it was the Tampa Bay Bucs’ turn, and [their new threads]( to match their new QB were generally well received. On Wednesday morning, the Falcons shared their new duds, and, well, the Internet had thoughts, particularly on the gradient version. In fact, the Carolina Panthers got in on the fun, [reacting to the Falcons' reveal with a meme]( of their own. That’s okay, though; you can’t please them all, and taking risks is always noble. [VIEWER'S GUIDE] FOX Football Now (FS1, 7 p.m. ET) Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians and new Dallas Cowboy Aldon Smith join Jay Glazer on the latest edition of FOX Football Now, where they’ll be answering your fan questions tonight on FS1. WWE NXT (USA, 8 p.m. ET) It should be an epic night for the black and yellow brand, as Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano are set for one last match, and a six-woman Ladder Match will determine the No. 1 contender to the new NXT Women’s Champion, The Queen, Charlotte Flair. Wednesday Night iRacing: World of Outlaws (FS1, 8 p.m. ET) The Greatest Show on Dirt heads to virtual Knoxville Raceway, with dirt track standouts such as David Gravel, Bobby Pierce, and Scott Bloomquist taking on NASCAR’s Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, and more. Classic NBA: Heat vs. Spurs, 2013 NBA Finals Game 6 (ESPN, 7 p.m. ET) Relive Ray Allen’s amazingly clutch 3-pointer that saved Miami’s Big Three and forced a Game 7 — then, if you’re so inclined, stay tuned immediately after for that championship-deciding game, too. [BET OF THE DAY] [BET OF THE DAY] Odds provided by [FOX Bet]( UFC 249: Tony Ferguson to win in Round 1, 2 or 3: +275 Now that the UFC 249 main event is set, it’s time to dip our toe into the market. And if you think that Tony Ferguson’s preparation gives him a decided advantage on the recently called upon Justin Gaethje, you could be in luck, as you’re getting almost 3-to-1 on your wager that El Cucuy gets the win by KO, TKO, submission or decision in the first three rounds. Interestingly enough, however, Geathje’s odds on a first round victory (+650) are actually shorter than Ferguson’s (+900). Just thought we’d point that out. [WHAT THEY SAID] "Never quit. It is the easiest cop-out in the world. Set a goal and don’t quit until you attain it. When you do attain it, set another goal, and don’t quit until you reach it. Never quit." — Bear Bryant [FOLLOW FOX SPORTS] [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( Download the FOX Sports app for live scores and streaming [App Store]( [Google Play]( Available on: [tvOS] [Roku] [fireTV] [androidtv] [XBOX] [Google chromecast] [tvOS] [fireTV] [androidtv] [XBOX] [Google chromecast] Forwarded this message? [Sign up](. Amazon, Fire, and all related marks are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Trademark & Copyright Notice: ™ and © 2020 FOX Media LLC and FOX Sports Interactive Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Please do not reply to this message. If you do not wish to receive emails like this in the future, please [unsubscribe](. FOX Sports respects your privacy. Click [here]( to view our Privacy Policy. FOX.com Business & Legal Affairs - Manager Digital Media P.O. Box 900 Beverly Hills, CA 90213-0900