UFC 249 will take place on May 9, along with two other shows on May 13 and May 16, in Jacksonville, Fla. Top Rank executive Bob Arum doesn't think that's a good idea. In fact, Arum said the actions of UFC president Dana White resemble "cowboy behavior."
“Good luck to them,” Arum told BoxingScene.com. “I just hope that they’re not endangering the safety of anyone. But this kind of cowboy behavior doesn’t do anybody any good.”
Arum criticized White for originally pushing for UFC 249 to take place on April 18 at the Tachi Palace Casino Resort in Lemoore Calif. White said Disney and ESPN, which owns the pay-per-view rights to UFC 249, told him to "stand down."
The rescheduled May 9 event in Jacksonville will be held without fans in attendance. Arum is looking into potential boxing cards, also without fans, but is holding off until mid-to-late June at the earliest. He said he's been working with people in Nevada, California and Texas in search of the best place for the events to take place.
“We’re only gonna do this if it’s safe for the fighters and everyone involved, and if it’s approved by the medical authorities," Arum told BoxingScene.com.
Arum was likely referring, in part, to Lyman Good's positive coronavirus test. Good was set to fight in the originally scheduled UFC 249 on April 18, but backed out because of "injury." Good actually withdrew due to his positive test, he revealed to ESPN.com last week.
Arum pointed to the leadership of NBA commissioner Adam Silver and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as who the UFC should be following. He then doubled down on his criticism of White.
"We’re not gonna be cowboys, like Dana White," Arum said in the same interview. "I don’t wanna get politics involved, but I have really very little respect for Dana and what he’s doing.”