Life as we know it is changing in unimaginable ways as the world combats coronavirus but for UFC boss Dana White, the show must go on.

Like much of society, sports leagues across the globe have been shut down and suspended but the head of the biggest MMA promotion in town is determined to buck that trend.

As footy codes in Australia come to terms with the very real possibility there may be no season at all this year, White is feeling bullish about UFC 249 going ahead on April 19 (AEDT) with a headline bout between Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov

To put that in perspective, the NRL has said the earliest its season could possibly resume is June – and to many, that is wishful thinking.

But not so for White who, as a good friend of Donald Trump, is channelling the American President and declaring life must return to normal as soon as possible.

In fact, White doesn’t seem to think coronavirus is as scary as we’re making out, instead blaming the media for blowing things out of proportion.

“I’m gonna try and pull off Tony vs Khabib and try to get some normalcy back in this country,” White said. “Every day that I work on this thing, I get another curve ball thrown at me. Every time we plan something, it falls apart — I have to re-do it, re-do it.

“I have four or five locations right now and we’re getting this deal done. And then we’re going to figure out who we can get in, who we can’t, what we can do and we’re going to build a card around it.

“Everybody’s running and hiding. I’m one of those guys that would rather get out there and find solutions. How do we figure this out? How do we beat this thing?

“Listen, if you’re somebody that’s a high risk, you should probably stay away and stay quarantined for a while. What happens when flu season comes again next year? What happens then?

“I think that the media has made this thing scary. People are buying all of the toilet paper there is. If you just look at a lot of things that are going on, it’s wacky and totally driven by fear. It’s very weird.

“I think that in a year or two, we’re going to be like, ‘Holy s***, we shut down the whole world for this thing?’”

Unsurprisingly, as the global number of coronavirus cases surged past 615,000 and the UK registered its deadliest day, with 260 deaths from the virus, not everyone was on White’s side.

MMA Writer at The Athletic Ben Fowlkes sarcastically tweeted: “For the good of the country. For national morale. That's why he's so adamant about putting on this pay-per-view fight. Got it.”

Fellow MMA writer Trent Reinsmith added: “Delusional and dumb. He’s wrong, but none of the sycophants he listens to will tell him that.”

Co-host of TMZ Sports Robert Littal said: “Assuming ESPN is doing the broadcast they are putting all their people at risk because Dana White is doing his best mini Trump impression. Interesting.”



Breaking: Dana White is parroting Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/VBHi9CpW8V — Josh Gross (@yay_yee) March 28, 2020

Every minute of every day, the UFC looks dumber and dumber by pushing forward with #UFC249.



Am I obsessed with this? No. The only thing I want is for people to be smart when it comes to the health and safety of others. Endanger yourself all you want, but don't endanger others. https://t.co/DY0e0AhH13 — Trent Reinsmith (@TrentReinsmith) March 28, 2020

Sense and Dana White have been practicing extreme social distancing for years. — Trent Reinsmith (@TrentReinsmith) March 28, 2020

Dana White and Vince McMahon are doing themselves no favors these days, and are probably going to come out of all of this looking REALLY bad. — Chris Walder (@WalderSports) March 27, 2020

Even the UFC’s biggest drawcard Conor McGregor is urging everyone to take coronavirus seriously and self-isolate. Most recently, he asked the Irish government to close Dublin Airport and bring in a 24-hour police patrol to ensure strict lockdown measures are being met.



"The ceasing of public transport and closure of all non-essential business has now taken place and that is just what we need. I applaud,” McGregor said.

"However, I would like an understanding of our airports. Our airports must shut.

“To those attempting to get home, please make wherever you are, your home. You will do your country an incredible deed by staying put.

"Any less than full adherence to these newly put forth methods by any members of our society will not only be a mockery to what we are attempting to do here, it will put the rest of our great nation in danger."