The UFC has pulled the plug on their next three events due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The promotion first announced the news in an email to employees confirming the plans to cancel the events that were scheduled on March 21, March 28 and April 11. The email from UFC president Dana White also added that plans are moving forward for UFC 249 on April 18 but the location for that event may be shifted out of Brooklyn, N.Y.

The UFC offices will also shut down through March 31. White’s letter was first reported by Twitter user Michael Carroll.

The March 21 card was supposed to be headlined by former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, while the UFC on ESPN 8 card on March 28 featured a heavyweight showdown between Francis Ngannou and Jairzinho Rozenstruik.

The final card cancelled was originally scheduled on April 11 in Portland, Ore. with Alistair Overeem taking on Walt Harris in the main event.

Now all of those fights have effectively been cancelled, with no word on when any of the cards or athletes will be rebooked for a later date.

The move comes amidst the growing outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, which has claimed more than 6,500 lives worldwide. Governors across numerous states have issued orders to clamp down on the number of people allowed in mass gatherings, which initially forced the UFC to abandon plans to go to cities like Columbus, Ohio and Portland, Ore.

When the U.S. issued a travel ban, which affected travelers in the United Kingdom, the UFC then shifted plans to move an event originally scheduled on March 21 in London to a new location that was still to be determined.

This past weekend, the Nevada State Athletic Commission held an emergency meeting to ban all combat sports events in the state until at least March 25. The commission has another meeting scheduled for that date where they will make a decision on future events being held in the state.

As the promotion scrambled to try and save the cards, President Donald Trump held a press conference on Monday where he urged Americans to avoid large groups of more than 10 people while also cutting down on unnecessary travel for at least the next 15 days in an effort to cut down on the spread of the deadly disease.

“Each and every one of us has a critical role to play,” Trump said. “If everyone makes these critical changes and sacrifices now, we will rally together as one nation and we will defeat the virus.”

Prior to Monday’s decision, the UFC was the only major sports organization in the United States still planning to move forward with events during the coronavirus outbreak. The NBA, NHL and Major League Soccer all suspended play several days ago as a reaction to the continued spread of the disease.

Still, UFC president Dana White defiantly moved forward with plans for upcoming fight cards including this past weekend with a show that took place in Brasilia, Brazil without an audience in attendance after the Brazilian government began shutting down mass gatherings in the region.

”Unless there’s a total shutdown of the country, where people can’t leave their houses and things like that, these fights will happen,” White said on Sunday when appearing on ESPN. “We’re gonna move on. These fights will happen. These guys will compete.

“We will find venues, and we will figure this thing out. I mean, the only thing that’s gonna stop us is a complete government shutdown, where everybody is confined to their homes.”

Despite his declaration, White and the UFC ultimately decided to cancel the upcoming cards with the next show currently planned for April 18 when lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is scheduled to meet Tony Ferguson at UFC 249.

Here is the full text of White’s letter to UFC employees:

My Crew

This has been a crazy couple of weeks. We’ve been doing everything possible to stick to our live events schedule because the fighters want to fight, our employees want to work, and the fans want to watch our sport. So many people have reached out over the past few days to say thanks for not canceling our Brasilia event on Saturday.

When weird things happen in the world, or when there’s a tragedy, like the October 1 shooting, people want things to get back to normal, and nothing feels more normal than watching sports.

We did everything we could to relocate our next three events– London, Columbus, and Portland. But every day, there are new restrictions put in place on travel and large public gatherings that are making it impossible to stay on schedule. We can’t even hold an event in Vegas, our home town, because there’s a ban on all combat sports events in Nevada until at least March 25.

As you heard me say, I’ve been in the fight game for 20 years, and this is what we do—we find a way to keep our events going no matter what. If fighters miss weight, if fighters get hurt, or if states won’t regulate us, we figure out a way. But this is different. The whole world is being affected right now, and nothing is more important than the health and safety of you and your families.

That’s why we are closing all UFC offices effective immediately, including HQ in Vegas, through at least March 31st, and asking all employees to work from home. The PI will also be closed to all personnel, including athletes, during this time. The next three events– London, Columbus, and Portland—will be postponed. UFC 249 is still scheduled as planned, but the location may change. We’ll keep you posted.

I tell you guys all the time, you are the BEST TO EVER DO IT. It feels sh*tty now, but WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS, and we’ll be TOUGHER, STRONGER, AND MORE BADASS than before.Right now, the number one priority is to take care of yourselves and your family.

Finally, I want you to know that UFC has your back. If you or any member of your family is showing symptoms of coronavirus and you’re having trouble getting to a doctor, please reach out to me, Lawrence, or Hunter.

Thanks.Dana