UFC bans fighters from criticising its coronavirus safety protocols

Even as the UFC downplays the health risks of holding bouts during a pandemic, it has been working to eliminate legal risk for itself.

In legal waivers presented to mixed martial artists by the sports entertainment company in advance of its multi-bout event on May 9 in Jacksonville, Florida, UFC fighters were required to acknowledge that hospital services in the area “may be unusually limited,” and that the UFC was making no guarantees “whatsoever” regarding local hospitals’ capacity, their ability to treat Covid-19, or whether going there would cause them to be exposed to the coronavirus.

The document also bans fighters from suggesting to anyone that the UFC events lack appropriate health and safety precautions and specifies that those who violate this prohibition could forfeit all their pay and bonuses for the bouts.

UFC president Dana White has pledged that the dominant mixed martial arts promotion would be “the first sport back.” The sport, whose initials stand for Ultimate Fighting Championship, involves close contact by necessity, with punching, kicking and submission holds.

With all the major US sports leagues on hiatus and considering how best to return to action, the legal issues surrounding the players’ safety and the owners’ liability are likely to gain more prominence in the coming months. UFC is on the front lines of trying to figure out a viable way forward, with Saturday’s event produced for television with no fans present.

“UFC has requested that all attendees of the event, including athletes and staff, review and sign a form agreement that discloses the manner in which UFC intends to operate the event and the risks involved for those attending,” the UFC said in a statement. “It also confirms that all those coming to the event have chosen to do so voluntarily. We anticipate that agreements of this nature will become standard during these unprecedented times.”