Tachi Palace in Lemoore reportedly to host UFC 249 despite coronavirus concerns
UFC is planning to use Tachi Palace Casino Resort in Lemoore for pay-per-view mixed-martial arts pro fights starting this month, according to multiple reports.
UFC president Dana White spoke to ESPN this week about restarting his popular fight series, sidelined since the coronavirus pandemic swept across the U.S.
White told ESPN “I locked up this venue for two months” and “I’m going to continue to pump fights out.”
White didn’t specify the venue, but Jeff Sherwood of Between Rounds Radio, reported Monday night that Tachi is the place.
Tuesday, The New York Times corroborated Sherwood’s story, citing three people familiar with the deal.
Calls and emails from The Bee to UFC and Tachi were not returned, but two sources familiar with Tachi’s fight operation confirmed that the resort is set to host UFC 249 on April 18 without fans present.
Tribal land
Tachi has been closed since March 20 as a precaution against spreading the coronavirus, COVID-19. But since it’s on Tachi-Yokut tribal land, it’s not required to adhere to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s shelter-in-place order that has stopped all large gatherings.
It also doesn’t have to adhere to state sports regulations, including the California State Athletic Commission’s decision to suspend all combat sports events through at least May. The CSAC said it won’t supply ringside officials or physicians for any UFC restart before the suspension is lifted.
Sports are largely suspended nationwide, of course, and UFC wasn’t exempt, canceling three events in March and April.
UFC 249 was supposed to happen April 18 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Now, apparently, it’s coming to Lemoore, the first of several UFC events reportedly planned at the Tachi resort arena while most of the country is shut down.
The card to be shown on ESPN+ features an interim lightweight title bout between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje. Twelve bouts are on the card.
Dana White’s promise
White told ESPN that everyone involved will be safe.
“Anyone who shows up to this event and who is a part of it will be safer than anyone who is sitting at home in their house,” he said. “They’re going to have access to the best medical attention, the best doctors, the best treatment that they can possibly get.
“You’re safer being at this event with me than actually being at home or going to the grocery store. I promise you that. All these people who are allowed to go to the grocery store, you’re going to be a lot safer at my event than going to the grocery store.”
The Association of Ringside Physicians has “a recommendation that all combat sporting events be postponed until further notice.”
The ARP also said “this includes any and all events, regardless of the number of people involved. Any combat sport taking place during this global pandemic places the athletes, officials, and anyone else involved in the event under unnecessary risk of infection and transmission of COVID-19. In addition, combat sports athletes often require medical attention after a bout, and we do not wish to see any additional strain on an already overwhelmed medical system.
“We continue to monitor this ever-evolving situation, and our thoughts continue to be with those who have been and will be affected by this disease.”
Tachi history
Tachi opened in 1983 and has steadily grown from a bingo hall to its current resort layout. Its arena has hosted pro MMA and boxing (including a 2016 Jose Ramirez fight on his way to two world championships) since 2001.
This story was originally published April 7, 2020 at 8:22 PM with the headline "Tachi Palace in Lemoore reportedly to host UFC 249 despite coronavirus concerns."
