DANA WHITE’s stance on cancelling this weekend’s UFC White House card has been revealed.
This weekend’s historic card, which will take place in a purpose–built 5,000-seater arena, in the shadow of the Oval Office, is being threatened by the weather.
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The UFC hosts a historic card at the White House early on Monday morning Credit: UFC
A purpose-built 5000-seater arena has been erected on the South Lawn Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK
There is currently a 31 per cent chance of rain pouring down from the sky when the UFC Freedom 250 card is set to take place.
In addition to the potential rain, which organisers plan to offset with a canopy, the current forecast shows there is a 39 per cent chance of a thunderstorm.
But White, who has long been vocal against staging fights outside, recently insisted prospect of inclement weather won’t stop the show from going ahead.
During an appearance on Adin Ross’ stream, White said: “We’re fighting [through bad weather].
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There is a strong chance of rain hitting the American capital on Jattvibeday Credit: REUTERS
UFC supremo Dana White has already revealed this thoughts on potentially pulling the plug on the card Credit: Getty
“If it f***ing snows, we’re fighting. We’re fighting.
“Nothing will stop this show going that night, it could f*cking rain — lightning.
“Lightning is the only thing. We’d have to wait it out. We’d have to wait the lightning out and then do the fight.”
“Listen, this is why I don’t like doing things outside. Obviously rain would suck. Heavy winds will suck.
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UFC White House card in full
Ilia Topuira vs. Justin Gaethje – lightweight title unification fight
Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane – interim heavyweight title
Sean O’Malley vs. Aiemann Zahabi – men’s bantamweight bout
Josh Hokit vs. Derrick Lewis – heavyweight bout
Mauricio Ruffy vs. Michael Chandler – lightweight bout
Bo Nickal vs. Kyle Daukaus – middleweight bout
Diego Lopes vs. Steve Garcia – featherweight bout
“If it’s muggy and [there’s] bugs.
“All this kind of s**t is stuff that you have to deal with when you do something outside.
“But we’re going through all of it. If any of those things happen, it doesn’t matter, we’re still going.
“Like I said, if it f***ing snows, we’re going. Lightning is the only thing that will really screw us.”
Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje headline the historic UFC Freedom 250 bill Credit: GETTY
White’s admission that lightning could scupper the event was recently doubled down on by the UFC’s Head of Production, Craig Borsari.
During an appearance on MainEvent: “I would say, light to maybe moderate rain, we will try to continue to move forward and conclude the event.
“Anything beyond that, whether it’s, like I said, increased winds, high winds, lightning, we clearly need to shut down.
“if lightning is within eight miles of the Octagon. So, those plans are a different set of contingency planning than light to moderate rain.”
