Bellator held its media day in Times Square on Monday, its weigh-in Thursday and announced that its Bellator 241 card would go on as planned Friday night, but without a live audience.
But on Friday, the company changed course and announced the postponement of Bellator 241 because of concerns of the coronavirus pandemic. The event was slated to take place from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Bellator president Scott Coker explained the company's decision Friday.
Bellator follows major sports organizations such as the NBA, NHL, MLB and MLS, which have all suspended their seasons, and the NCAA, which canceled its men's and women's basketball tournaments. The UFC, however, still plans on holding its slated events.
Bellator 241 was supposed to feature double champ Patricio "Pitbull" Freire putting his featherweight title on the line against Pedro Carvalho in the quarterfinals of the Featherweight World Grand Prix tournament.
Ryan Grab, Bellator senior director of communications, confirmed with DAZN News' Steven Muehlhausen that the fighters, who were set to appear on the Bellato 241 card, will be compensated.