Dana White: UFC APEX will host events ‘starting next month and for the forseeable future’

MMA Fighting

The UFC’s home base in Las Vegas could be hosting live fights as early as next month, according to Dana White.

The UFC APEX, which hosted last season of Dana White’s Contender Series, could be the consistent home of UFC events for quite some time. MMA Fighting reported on Tuesday that the promotion is targeting May 9 for a return to action.

In an e-mail to Variety, White stated that the UFC APEX could be hosting these events sooner rather than later.

“We built the APEX facility next door just in time to save the day from this pandemic,” White said. “Live fights will be produced out of there starting next month and for the foreseeable future.”

White did not specify when the string of events at the APEX would begin, as the targeted May 9 event does not have a location at this time.

Currently, Nevada is under a stay-at-home order for non-essential businesses until April 30. According to the report from Variety, the UFC is expecting the lockdown to be “eased within the coming month” for these events to take place behind closed doors to the public.

Should Nevada not be an option for the May 9 event and beyond, it seems as if Florida could be a frontrunner to host upcoming fight cards.

A new order issued by Governor Ron DeSantis approved a list of “essential services” including “employees at a professional sports and media production with a national audience — including any athletes, entertainers, production team, executive team, media team and any others necessary to facilitate including services supporting such production — only if the location is closed to the general public.”

In an email statement to MMA Fighting from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation confirmed that they would be willing to host events as long as the guidelines set forth are adhered to.

Should the May 9 event move forward, three title fights would take place. Tony Ferguson is slated to meet Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title, Henry Cejudo will defend the bantamweight title against former champion Dominick Cruz, and Amanda Nunes will defend her women’s featherweight belt for the first time against Felicia Spencer.