Combate Americas postpones return to action indefinitely following COVID-19 surge in Florida

Combate Americas

Combate Americas has decided to postpone their upcoming return to action due to the recent surge of COVID-19 cases in Florida.

The promotion made the announcement this week after originally scheduling a series of cards that would be held behind closed doors in Miami with the first show taking place Aug. 28. Combate Americas hasn’t held an event since February due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“This is not a decision we took lightly, and is based entirely on our focus to prioritize the safety of our employees, broadcast partners, fighters and the broader MMA community,” Combate Americas CEO Campbell McLaren said in a statement released to the Associated Press.

“We explored many alternatives to avoid this measure, including the possibility of moving our in-studio fights to Los Angeles. Unfortunately, the state of California is in a similarly precarious situation with COVID outbreaks, and it seems untenable to proceed without taking into consideration the health of those we love.”

Florida was one of the first states to loosen restrictions based around the pandemic with sports being an “essential business” by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The UFC made its return in Jacksonville, Fla. back in May for a series of shows that were held behind closed doors without an audience in attendance.

Unfortunately, Florida has seen COVID-19 cases skyrocket in recent days including 517 new hospitalizations and more than 369,000 total infected in the state since the pandemic started.

While Combate Americas has delayed their return, the UFC has continued to put on events throughout the pandemic including a series of four events held in Abu Dhabi that will wrap up with a card on July 25. Bellator MMA is also scheduled to return to action starting this Friday with shows being held at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.