Dana White refuses to waver on holding occasions throughout the Center East, shutting down questions on regional unrest and journey security with curt dismissals.
Throughout a sit-down with CBS Sports activities’ Shakiel Mahjouri, the UFC CEO was requested straight whether or not the group had drawn up contingency plans for an upcoming card in Abu Dhabi.
“Nope. We’re going,” White mentioned.
Requested whether or not he had consulted native officers, White fired again with two phrases: “We go.”
He doubled down on the Edmonton post-fight press convention when reporters introduced up a possible December card in Saudi Arabia.
“I am going to Abu Dhabi on Tuesday,” White said. “I’ve like six occasions within the subsequent 30 days in Saudi, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.”
White clearly intends to make the journey, but his temporary replies ignore the operational realities going through everybody else. Behind each main worldwide card sit tons of of athletes, cornermen, broadcast technicians, and occasion workers. White supplied zero perception into what occurs if flights halt, nor did he make clear whether or not staff can decide out of journey.
Related tensions just lately erupted in boxing round Canelo Alvarez’s matchup with Christian Mbilli. That card is impartial of the UFC, however veteran coach Robert Garcia raised an identical security flags relating to the undercard personnel.
Garcia, who handles Lindolfo Delgado on the preliminary slate, instructed Elie Seckbach that Canelo’s personal jets and elite safety element do nothing to guard the remainder of the touring expertise.
“In the event that they inform us you guys are all touring collectively, then we’re nice,” Garcia identified.
His message carries weight: marquee stars receiving first-class safety doesn’t remedy the journey anxieties of the crew supporting them.
White might need complete safety protocols operating behind closed doorways. Despite that, barking “we go” leaves his roster, workforce, and their households fully in the dead of night. Locking in a world combat date is simple; proving that the folks making it occur can work and return residence safely calls for actual transparency.
In the end, refusing to debate contingency plans is just not bravery. Bravery requires taking calculated dangers the place you personally bear the complete penalties.
Committing tons of of impartial contractors, low-wage workers, and touring athletes to a unstable space with out outlining clear safety and evacuation protocols is just company stubbornness backed by large monetary ensures.
