Hearn Slams Move By 'Stubborn' Dana White To Stage Island Fights

[Ruthless-RKO]

Boxing Scene Article

Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn is not one to shy away from taking risks and being first to market. Over the last year, the promoter secured a $50 million site fee to stage a heavyweight fight in Saudi Arabia despite human rights concerns and he’s also partnered with Paul brothers Logan and Jake and pitted the celebrities in the ring with separate bouts as boxers.

Like many other boxing promoters, Hearn has had to suspend his full slate of shows around the U.K. and U.S. from March through June because of coronavirus.

UFC boss Dana White announced Monday that he’s moving forward with his April 18 ESPN Plus pay per view to an unknown island in the U.S. despite losing his original main event (Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson) and venue (Barclays Center) in recent days.

"It's unbelievable, I'd like to think that in boxing, there's no one more ‘roll your sleeves up and get on with it’ than me," Hearn told Express Sport. "But even I wouldn't consider staging an event right now. I'm not even thinking about options, not even on the radar.

"This is stubbornness [by the UFC]. These are many of the things that make [Dana White] successful but at some point you have to sit back and say 'white flag.' I'm quite surprised ESPN is going ahead with this, obviously they want ratings and money. But with Sky Sports and DAZN, I would not be allowed to stage events right now. It's bad taste to be quite honest.

"[Dana White] wants to be a trailblazer, people have told him he can't do it. But I know the feeling of being told something and you do it anyway. Half of me admires him for cracking on but the other half says 'come on don't be mad.’”

The UFC announced Monday that UFC 249 will be headlined by Ferguson and Justin Gaethje for the interim title and consist of 12 fights overall.

White will be able to conceivably book flights and fights for international mixed martial artists who couldn't come travel to the U.S. under the current travel ban. White plans on making the yet-to-be-announced location a new home for UFC for the immediate future until coronavirus is no more.

"So this place where this fight is going to be on April 18 I have locked up for two months, so I'm going to continue to pump fights out,” White told ESPN on Monday. “The infrastructure is being built right now. We're going to do all of our international fights on this island … We're going to start cranking. The UFC will be back up and running, internationally and here in the States.

"Health and safety is something we worry about all the time, not just during the coronavirus. Obviously, this has made our jobs a little tougher, but we're going to do everything above and beyond to make sure everybody is safe, just like we always do. A lot of things will be different."

Hearn shared that he’s taking an entirely different approach than White with boxing, and he doesn’t mind sitting it out even though fighters like Regis Prograis, who was supposed to headline a Hearn-promoted show next week in Maryland against Maurice Hooker, are calling for Hearn to follow White’s path at securing an island for boxing matches as well.

"I was on the phone with [Top Rank head] Bob Arum yesterday with Pulev's team too and Arum's like 'I like you guys but why are we wasting our time on this call? Let's speak at the end of the month and we'll know more'," said Hearn. "[Coronavirus] hasn't really affected our business too much. Financially we're okay, other than some initial costs which we couldn't get back. We've built up a decent business over the last eight years, we're in a strong position with good liquidity."

[Ruthless-RKO]

He's just pissed he didn't get a private island first.

Promoters do things that others get pissed off over, only because they're pissed at themselves that they didn't think about it first.

Hearn going to Saudi was not well received my many.

[Ricky]

He's just pissed he didn't get a private island first.

Promoters do things that others get pissed off over, only because they're pissed at themselves that they didn't think about it first.

Hearn going to Saudi was not well received my many.

The private island stuff during this pandemic is worse than staging a fight in Saudi.

[Nightmare Roy]

He's just pissed he didn't get a private island first.

Promoters do things that others get pissed off over, only because they're pissed at themselves that they didn't think about it first.

Hearn going to Saudi was not well received my many.

The private island stuff during this pandemic is worse than staging a fight in Saudi.

I’d say they are on a par with each other

[Nondescript]

Morally questionable, but id be lying if I said I won't watch it.

[ALI]

I'll be watching.

Dana White is a canny businessman. Staging this card is not just about its PPV sales. With all other sports postponed, he knows UFC 249 will get all the headlines, and it will bring in many, many new fans to their sport, as people will be looking for something to watch. He is talking about staging cards back to back, week after week, on this island, with no fans, just tv camera's. Sounds very much like he is out to capitalise on something he views as a big opportunity for his firm.

[Ricky]

I'll be watching.

Dana White is a canny businessman. Staging this card is not just about its PPV sales. With all other sports postponed, he knows UFC 249 will get all the headlines, and it will bring in many, many new fans to their sport, as people will be looking for something to watch. He is talking about staging cards back to back, week after week, on this island, with no fans, just tv camera's. Sounds very much like he is out to capitalise on something he views as a big opportunity for his firm.

Well the lack of competition is a good point, but imo this is short termism that could seriously hurt the brand image. Just seems unprofessional to me.

(I too would watch it though).

[margaret thatcher]

I'll be watching.

Dana White is a canny businessman. Staging this card is not just about its PPV sales. With all other sports postponed, he knows UFC 249 will get all the headlines, and it will bring in many, many new fans to their sport, as people will be looking for something to watch. He is talking about staging cards back to back, week after week, on this island, with no fans, just tv camera's. Sounds very much like he is out to capitalise on something he views as a big opportunity for his firm.

Well the lack of competition is a good point, but imo this is short termism that could seriously hurt the brand image. Just seems unprofessional to me.

(I too would watch it though).

How much do head smashing fans really care so much about this that they'd be turned off the UFC though. I mean if you even say you'd tune in...

[Ricky]

Well the lack of competition is a good point, but imo this is short termism that could seriously hurt the brand image. Just seems unprofessional to me.

(I too would watch it though).

How much do head smashing fans really care so much about this that they'd be turned off the UFC though. I mean if you even say you'd tune in...

I'd imagine the long term strategy of the UFC is to make the brand less niche and more mainstream. I know that the UFC battles an image if being "a bunch of meatheads" (as many of even my boxing-mad pals put it). Money grabbing during a global pandemic I don't think helps that. They've got a great brand thats on the right track .. seems a needless venture to me.

[margaret thatcher]

What about the idea that this would show ultimate dedication to the fans

[Boxerbeetle]

Anyone else getting Enter The Dragon vibes from this plan?

[Nightmare Roy]

I think this “pub fighting” stuff is finally going mainstream, mainly because boxing 90% of the time is full of politics and the best don’t fight the best, seems daft to tarnish is reputation by trying to stage fights now, whilst every other sport is on complete lockdown.

[Cyclops]

Anyone else getting Enter The Dragon vibes from this plan?

I was thinking the exact same thing

[TheLeprechaun]

If it comes off it will be a very exciting main event. Ferguson and Gaethje are probably the two most exciting fighters in the UFC and neither man takes a backward step. Both of these guys are serious serious fighters. Ferguson is a complete nutter.

[Ruthless-RKO]

UFC to beat virus lockdown with event on tribal land

LOS ANGELES, USA – The Ultimate Fighting Championship is aiming to circumvent coronavirus lockdown restrictions by staging an event on an Indian reservation in California later this month, US media reported on Wednesday, April 8.

The New York Times reported that UFC chief Dana White planned to hold UFC 249 at the Tachi Palace Resort Casino in central California on April 18, sidestepping state guidelines that have brought sports to a standstill.

The casino – which has been closed since March 20 because of the COVID-19 pandemic – is on land belonging to the Tachi-Yokut Tribe.

Indian reservations typically operate independently of the states in which they are located, outside of local government or US federal government control.

By staging the event on tribal land, organizers also evade the requirement to obtain sanctioning from the California State Athletic Commission.

White has repeatedly voiced determination to continue holding UFC cards, insisting that the circuit can continue safely with events held without spectators.

On Monday, White told ESPN that he had secured a venue for UFC 249 and further events but did not state where. White also said he had secured the use of an "island" to stage figts.

"This place where this fight is going to be on April 18 I have locked up for two months, so I’m going to continue to pump fights out," White said.

"I've got an island. The infrastructure is being built right now. We're going to do all of our international fights on this island. We're going to start cranking. The UFC will be back up and running, internationally and here in the states."

MMA star Khabib Nurmagomedov already said he would not take part in the UFC card, saying he was not prepared to travel amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Lightweight champion Nurmagomedov was due to have headlined the UFC 249 event in a bout against Tony Ferguson.

UFC has already postponed 3 events after officials were unable to find venues to stage fights amid restrictions put in place to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

[keirw]

So White is actually going ahead with his insane ideas then.......

What happens if one of the few people present get Coronavirus?
Or if one of the fighters gets injured and has to be taken to a hospital already at breaking point?

White needs to just let it go.

[ILikeBeer]

Stupid idea, and I won't watch.

Though I struggle to accept the moral high ground from Hearn is legit.

He even admits he admires him.

[TheLeprechaun]

He can rent Epstein island. Ask Barry for his number

Eddie having the audacity to take the moral high ground is pretty funny

[margaret thatcher]

Think ESPN /Disney have ordered him to not do this

[oogiebe]

He can rent Epstein island. Ask Barry for his number

Eddie having the audacity to take the moral high ground is pretty funny

Hearn is just pissed that he didn't think of it first.

[Ruthless-RKO]

He announced 249 won’t be on the original planned date.

[ALI]

He announced 249 won’t be on the original planned date.

Yes, the event is officially called off. ESPN rightfully told Dana White not to do it while a lot of the US is on lockdown, so we wont see the UFC back until this thing passes, or, at least until restrictions on movement are lifted.

[Onetimeonly]

Not sure why stubborn would be the complaint. I think what set Dana off was Vegas not allowing him to run in his own building. If this did go down I was thinking he might get arrested.