Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway has issued a statement to the public, urging everyone to take the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak seriously.
Last weekend’s UFC Brasilia event was converted to a closed-door event last-minute in response to the growing concerns over the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. Now, the UFC have announced the cancellation of their next 3 events.
Many fighters believe that the show should go on, even if it means fighting with no fans in the attendance. However, Max Holloway believes that’s not the right approach.
The former UFC featherweight champion issued a statement on his Instagram, urging the public to take the COVID-19 coronavirus seriously, tackle it early and protect the most vulnerable in society. Read it below:
“I don’t think there’s a doc out there who would say COVID-19 is more dangerous than fighting for a living. I’m not afraid of it to be honest. It’s like the flu but 10x more deadly. So what? I put myself in more danger every day. So for anybody else who feels that way I agree
But I also learned it’s not about me. I can carry it. I can have no symptoms like Donovan Mitchell. Then I can give it to my grandma and maybe she doesn’t beat it. Then what? All my UFC title belts ain’t gonna make me tough enough to deal with that responsibility.
Hawaii doesn’t have that many hospital beds… If just a few hundred elderly need to be in ICU for treatment then what? What happens then when Sista Moki gets in a car accident and the ICU is already full? I don’t know. Nobody does and we don’t want to find out.
This isn’t about most of us who could get it and beat it. It’s about the people who won’t beat it so we gotta make sure we do our part to protect them. Take the social distancing seriously. Pretend you already have it. Distance yourself to protect others AND yourself.
I know when the govt says “prepare but don’t panic” that basically screams panic. I get it. But none of us need 48 rolls of toilet paper… So if you know someone who may need supplies, we need to help them and share. But also remember we could already have it and not know, so be VERY careful?”
And if you see me in the store, smile, point to the ground if you one banga, but we don’t need to take photos. Most people who go to the store in normal times probably only interact with one or two strangers. When I go anywhere I have hundreds of interactions, a lot of people come up to me. I’m a magnet for viruses. It’s not good for your loved ones health for you to interact with me now.
I promise when this is all over my team will do meet and greets so everyone who wants a photo or autograph can get one, so don’t worry you will not be missing your chance.
This isn’t practice. This is a fight. You guys know me. I love to take fights into deep waters. This isn’t one we want to take into deep waters. The quicker we can slow the spread the quicker we get back to normal.”
UFC is now amongst a growing list of major sports organisations and association from around the world that have suspended events until further notice. ONE Championship recently announced that some of their future events will now be closed-door events, until further notice.
Fans are worried that the scheduled UFC lightweight championship title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson could be cancelled. The fight is set to take place at UFC 249 on April 18, 2020 in Barclays Centre, New York. Unfortunately, the state of New York recently announced a ban on all large events, leaving the UFC 249 event in jeopardy.
UFC president Dana White and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s manager and friend Ali Abdelaziz assured the fans that the fight will happen on 18th April.
This article first appeared on CLOSEDGUARDMEDIA.com on 17th March, 2020.
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