An MMA event scheduled to go ahead in Dublin this evening has been cancelled because the venue deemed that the organisers’ insurance policy did not meet their requirements.

Irish-owned promotion World Cage Fighting Championship were due to host WCFC 5 at the Wright Venue in Swords tonight, but the show was belatedly called off just when as it was due to start.

The Wright Venue told Independent.ie, that the insurance policy presented to them by representatives of World Cage Fighting Championship was not considered by them to be of the required standard for such an event.

Furthermore, they also claimed that for such events the onus was on the promoter or organiser, and not the venue, to take out insurance for both participants and those in attendance.

The Wright Venue confirmed that the fighting apparatus used by World Cage Fighting Championship, which is a cage and boxing ring hybrid, could put customers at risk of undue harm, and that they decided the insurance policy in question did not address those possibilities.

While these developments may be coincidence, the death of Portuguese fighter Joao Carvalho on Monday, after an event at the National Stadium last weekend, has likely heightened an awareness for the utmost diligence where mixed martial arts is concerned.

In the aftermath of the cancellation, the owners of World Cage Fighting Championship took to Facebook to apologise to those who had bought tickets and gave assurances that they would be valid for the rescheduled show, set to take place on May 20.

“The WCFC Organisers would like to apologise for postponing this evening’s event. The adequate public liability insurance was not provided and therefore The Wright Venue, for insurance & legal purposes could not allow this event to go ahead.

“The health & safety of the participants and all patrons is of paramount concern to all involved. The Wright Venue did everything in its power to facilitate the event going ahead.”

The Wright Venue in Swords getting ready for the first #MMA event in Dublin since last week's tragedy @NewstalkFM pic.twitter.com/GpZVQyoc3B — Kieran Cuddihy (@kierancuddihy) April 15, 2016

MMA event in Swords just cancelled. Fighters all here ready to go. No explanation yet as to why. — Kieran Cuddihy (@kierancuddihy) April 15, 2016

Apparently the organisers found out two hours ago that they had no insurance. #MMA — Kieran Cuddihy (@kierancuddihy) April 15, 2016

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