A professional association well-versed on matters of health and safety has come out in favor of the suspension of combat sports until the COVID-19 pandemic passes.

The board of directors of the Association of Ringside Physicians issued a statement Monday urging the postponement of all combat sports events until the novel coronavirus is contained, regardless of how many people are in attendance at the event. The letter comes on the same day as news broke that the UFC will go ahead with UFC 249 on April 18, at a site to be determined, with a main event of Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje.

In addition to concerns for the health of the fighters and everyone else associated with a combat sports event, the board also noted it is not unusual for combat sports participants to require medical attention after fights, which would add strain to medical facilities which in some places are already struggling to keep up with the pace of COVID-19 cases.

You can read the statement in full below: