‘Ultra creepy’ scenes at UFC Brazil amid coronavirus fears

There were seriously weird scenes in Brazil today as fighters beat each other up in almost complete silence as the UFC continued without any fans.

The UFC became the latest sporting code to experience life amid the coronavirus outbreak as a fight night on Sunday (AEDT) went ahead without any fans.

Fighters entered the Octagon without the usual hoo-hah because the arena was empty after the Brazilian government banned gatherings of more than 100 people.

Only cornermen, referees, judges, media and stadium staff were present to witness the action taking place in eerie silence.

The show must go on 🇧🇷 #UFCBrasilia pic.twitter.com/c8LDx7wjbJ

— UFC (@ufc) March 14, 2020

The echo ringing through the arena after Joe Martinez makes his announcements is ultra creepy.#UFCBrasilia

— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) March 14, 2020

There are crickets in the venue so you can literally.....hear crickets

— Mick Maynard (@Mickmaynard2) March 14, 2020

Fighting in an empty gym is different. You will literally hear your heart beating #UFCBrasilia

— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) March 14, 2020

Bea Malecki kicked the preliminary card off with a unanimous points win (29-28 x 3) over Veronica Macedo before David Dvorak beat Bruno Silva in the same fashion.

In the co-main event, Gilbert Burns defeated Demian Maia via a first round TKO in their welterweight battle. Burns floored Maia with a left hook then followed up with a flurry of punches on the ground, forcing the referee to jump in and stop the fight.

The victor put the finishing touches on his day by calling out Colby Covington.

“I believe that I have now entered the top five of the category,” Burns said. “I want to face Colby Covington.

“He came to Sao Paulo, said a lot of bad things. I was a lightweight at the time, I couldn’t talk about it. But now I am a welterweight and I want to face him anywhere.”

Gilbert Burns knocks out Maia. #UFCBrasilia pic.twitter.com/Mm7YkhqZXl

— ern.s3 (@ErnestSIII) March 14, 2020

Oh My Goodness!! What a hook by Burns!! Now on a 5 fight W streak with that HUGE finish. Top 10 here he comes!

2nd bonus of the night just got snatched up!! #UFCBrasília

— Megan Anderson (@MeganA_mma) March 14, 2020

The headline fight saw lightweight Charles Oliveira submit Kevin Lee with a guillotine choke in the third round.

WHITE: EVERYONE ELSE IS ‘PANICKING’

While leagues and organisers across sports cancelled or delayed competition this week, the UFC proceeded in Brazil and the promotion still plans to stage a full fight card with fans inside London’s O2 Arena.

The UFC hasn’t cancelled any competitions, even those previously scheduled for areas where large gatherings are now banned. Instead, the promotion has moved events scheduled for March 28 in Columbus, Ohio, and April 11 in Portland, Oregon, to the new UFC Apex complex in Las Vegas, where it has a small arena and television production capabilities.

UFC President Dana White attributes his decision to go against the sports world’s collective mindset partly to a conversation with US President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. White, a longtime friend of Trump, said the rest of the world was “panicking” and he was intent on steering the ship with a level-head so as not to overreact.

“I talked to the president and the vice president of the United States about this,” White said on ESPN. “They’re taking this very serious. They’re saying, ‘Be cautious, be careful, but live your life and stop panicking’.

“Everybody is panicking, and instead of panicking, we’re actually getting out there and working with doctors and health officials and the government to figure out how we can keep the sport safe and how we can continue to put on events.”

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Dana White is insisting the show must go on.

The UFC doesn’t have fans in the stands in Brazil and they won’t be Las Vegas either, but the competition will go on — and more importantly to the fighters, they’ll get paid in a sport that usually provides no financial compensation to its combatants for their months of preparation and training unless a fight actually takes place.

“I would bet more than half of fighters would expose themselves to coronavirus before not getting to fight,” UFC welterweight Anthony Rocco Martin said.

“We aren’t union and don’t get paid to not fight. Most spend all their money getting to their next fight.”

White said the UFC will monitor its fighters for symptoms of coronavirus before allowing them to compete. The UFC issued guidelines to its fighters and employees this week asking them to adhere to standard practices for avoiding contraction and transmission of disease.

“We’re always looking out for the health and safety of our fans, our athletes, whatever it might be,” White said. “This thing going on, we’re going to do the same thing. We’re going to make sure that two healthy athletes are competing, and these guys are good to go.”

UFC BRAZIL RESULTS

Main card

Charles Oliveira defeated Kevin Lee via submission (R3, 0:28)

Gilbert Burns defeated Demian Maia via TKO (R1, 2:34)

Renato Moicano defeated Damir Hadzovic via submission (R1, 0:44)

Nikita Krylov defeated Johnny Walker via unanimous decision (29-28 x 2, 30-27)

Francisco Trinaldo defeated John Makdessi via unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 29-28)

Preliminary card

Brandon Moreno defeated Jussier Formiga via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x 2)

Amanda Ribas defeated Randa Markos via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-25 x 2)

Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos defeated Alexsei Kunchenko via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)

Rani Yahya vs Enrique Barzola finishes in majority draw (29-28, 28-28 x2)

Maryna Moroz defeated Mayra Bueno Silva via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)

David Dvorak defeated Bruno Silva via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)

Bea Malecki defeated Veronica Macedo via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)