Dana White Calls The UFC’s Return A Success

The UFC returned for the first time during the coronavirus pandemic with a three pack of events in Jacksonville, Florida.

While there were a few kinks in the armor throughout the week, everything was a success according to UFC President Dana White.

“It feels good,” White said after UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Harris (via Nolan King & John Morgan of MMA Junkie). “I’m happy to have it behind me. I wanted this week to be over. It was successful in every way it could be successful. I feel great about it. More importantly, nobody is sick. Nobody is sick. Nobody has gotten sick. Hopefully, that’s the case. There’s no guarantees in life, but hopefully that’s the case and we all go home. It was a great event. It was a great week.”

A total of 60+ fighters were scheduled to compete throughout the week, but only one in Ronaldo Souza tested positive for the coronavirus, causing his bout against Uriah Hall to be pulled from UFC 249.

White also credits Jacksonville, Florida as the perfect place for the promotion to hold those three events at.

“I think we picked the perfect place to do it, too,” White said. “This town was perfect for it. Like I said, the governor and the mayor and the athletic commission – everybody was great. This arena was incredible. These guys were great to us. I don’t know what your experience was out in Jacksonville, but everybody was nice. Everybody was great. The food was awesome. I just couldn’t say enough good things about Jacksonville and the experience here. I’m glad we did it here first. I’m ready to go home, though.”

Up next for the UFC is UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. Burns on May 30 and then UFC 250 on June 6.