Dana White, UFC President gives a speech during 2019 UFC Performance Institute Panel and UFC Fight Night Shenzhen Press Conference at UFC Performance Institute Shanghai (Photo by Yifan Ding/Getty Images)
Reports had suggested that the UFC had been hit with layoffs
Sport has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic with several teams across the world laying off employees to deal with the season.
Many football clubs, especially in the lower divisions, have had to take tough calls. Whereas, some of the top teams have suggested pay cuts for their players to ensure no one is sacked.
However, reports were rife on the internet that the UFC was also hit hard and several employees were to be made redundant.
This was in stark contrast to what Dana White had said a week or so ago. The UFC president Dana White was adamant that no one was going to be sacked and he was going to ensure that such a thing would not happen to his promotion.
However, these reports were contrary to those remarks as Variety claimed that
“the majority of staff cuts have hit IMG Academy, a sports education facility, and support staff at businesses including talent agency WME and UFC. The cuts affect facilities workers and mailroom employees who cannot fulfill their duties from home, said one insider.”
Endeavor, the parent company of the UFC, was allegedly laying off employees but White came to the rescue.
The UFC president was quick to reply to such allegations and said:
“Nobody will lose their job at the UFC. Nobody’s getting laid off. It’s not going to happen. The other side of Endeavor laid some people off. I’m not laying anybody off. It’s not going to happen.”
The UFC has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic too. They have had to postpone three events, and there has been talk of many other events being postponed too.
However, White has always been adamant that none of his staff would be laid off. This is a great move from the president, and this should increase the goodwill of the people in the stadium and also the fans who follow the UFC closely.
White does need to hit the ball out of the park though as revenue has to come into the UFC. UFC 249 is expected to take place on 18 April, something that White is certain of.
He has spoken about a venue being decided but the fans will not be in attendance due to the coronavirus.
Should that event take place, there will be a load of PPV subscribers as tickets won’t be on sale. Advertisers could also get a chance to show off their brand, especially with the big Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Tony Ferguson fight.
White has always pulled a rabbit out of the hat in his lifetime, and he is the one man you wouldn’t bet against.
Should UFC 249 happen, a lot of talk about layoffs will be over and the UFC can then restart putting on other fight cards too.
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