UFC 259: New Zealand?

[Matthew Fedler]

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/43...ew-year-but-covid-mutes-festivities-elsewhere

New Zealand has dealt with COVID more effectively than any other country, and UFC 259 currently features Israel Adesanya from NZ and Megan Anderson from AUS challenging for world titles.

If NZ would allow the UFC to put on an event (with strict COVID regulations in place) in front of a full arena they could push Volkanovski vs Ortega back and make it one of the biggest events in MMA history. Whittaker vs Costa is also rumoured for March. If Hooker vs Chandler at 257 doesn’t get finalized for whatever reason Dan could be added as well. The main card could look something like:

Blachowicz vs Adesanya
Nunes vs Anderson
Volkanovski vs Ortega
Whittaker vs Costa
Hooker vs TBD (Chandler, RDA, Oliveira, Ferguson, Gaethje)

The prelims could be stacked with fighters like Jimmy Crute, Kai Kara-France, Tai Tuivasa, Brad Riddell, etc.

Possible replacement headliners for UFC 258 include Zhang vs Rose, Shevchenko vs Andrade, Figueiredo vs Moreno II, Yan vs Sterling, Usman vs Burns, etc. Alternatively, if reports are true that the UFC is planning to hold two PPV events in March (reportedly targeting Miocic-Ngannou II for UFC 260) they could skip February altogether on the PPV calendar.

Given how well NZ has handled the virus they could realistically host International Fight Week — pool parties and all.

 

[mjoln]

They cant do it. Its Hunto's son's territory

"Across the western sky he runs
A wolf so grim and mean
Devours the eternal sun
And soon the world will cease to be
The north star falls from the sky
Into the deep cold sea
The first of all to fall and die
And soon the world will cease to be"

 

[bubbleboyjones]

If NZ would allow the UFC to put on an event (with strict COVID regulations in place) in front of a full arena

How does one put on an event in a full arena with strict COVID regulations? That literally goes against strict COVID regulations.

 

[runjay]

lol @ that hairstyle. what the fuck.

 

[wearetheromans]

How does one put on an event in a full arena with strict COVID regulations? That literally goes against strict COVID regulations.

NZ doesn't need covid regulations because they defeated covid

 

[Big Tuppy Hole]

How does one put on an event in a full arena with strict COVID regulations? That literally goes against strict COVID regulations.

You quarantine everyone on the way in for 2 weeks, isolate the problem.

 

[TempleoftheDog]

At this point I’d probably be surprised if they have a normal fully attended event in 2021. But, it depends what happens in the next 6 months or so.

Everything is pretty much locked down again where I live. But, it’s possible because some places and governments are still being irresponsible in dealing with Covid. The UFC had a great year without crowds. And they may just remain content to keep putting on shows. But, of course the UFC is greedy.

But, no I don’t think we will see this NZ card in the timeframe described in the OP.

 

[The Bloody Nine]

Joe Parker is fighting Junior Fa shortly. I thought that event would have a crowd in attendance. Could be wrong.

 

[wufabufa]

No way NZ opens back up to that level of international travel in order to allow that many foreign fighters, their coaches, and UFC staff to flood their COVID free country. They worked pretty hard and were strict as fuck to get to this point. Even with a fully vaccinated population I doubt they open up the borders to let outsiders in by the hundreds or thousands any time in the next year.

 

[Milenkovic]

That random rack on a news paper kills me more than anything in this thread

 

[stacrafty]

NZ doesn't need covid regulations because they defeated covid

this

we took the threat seriously at the start, we don't have morons running around shouting "muh freedoms, I live in ammehirca, i don't need to wear no mask" and we defeated it.

Its not a difficult problem to solve. The less people that have it, the less it spreads, and then the less people have it. And to stop it spreading you need to isolate for a few weeks.

That card would be awesome though

 

[runjay]

this

we took the threat seriously at the start, we don't have morons running around shouting "muh freedoms, I live in ammehirca, i don't need to wear no mask" and we defeated it.

Its not a difficult problem to solve. The less people that have it, the less it spreads, and then the less people have it. And to stop it spreading you need to isolate for a few weeks.

That card would be awesome though

He said, whilst posting on a USA forum

 

[mkt]

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/43...ew-year-but-covid-mutes-festivities-elsewhere

New Zealand has dealt with COVID more effectively than any other country, and UFC 259 currently features Israel Adesanya from NZ and Megan Anderson from AUS challenging for world titles.

If NZ would allow the UFC to put on an event (with strict COVID regulations in place) in front of a full arena they could push Volkanovski vs Ortega back and make it one of the biggest events in MMA history. Whittaker vs Costa is also rumoured for March. If Hooker vs Chandler at 257 doesn’t get finalized for whatever reason Dan could be added as well. The main card could look something like:

Blachowicz vs Adesanya
Nunes vs Anderson
Volkanovski vs Ortega
Whittaker vs Costa
Hooker vs TBD (Chandler, RDA, Oliveira, Ferguson, Gaethje)

The prelims could be stacked with fighters like Jimmy Crute, Kai Kara-France, Tai Tuivasa, Brad Riddell, etc.

Possible replacement headliners for UFC 258 include Zhang vs Rose, Shevchenko vs Andrade, Figueiredo vs Moreno II, Yan vs Sterling, Usman vs Burns, etc. Alternatively, if reports are true that the UFC is planning to hold two PPV events in March (reportedly targeting Miocic-Ngannou II for UFC 260) they could skip February altogether on the PPV calendar.

Given how well NZ has handled the virus they could realistically host International Fight Week — pool parties and all.

Wait, I thought Chandler verbally committed to fighting Hooker. Are they not definitely fighting?

 

[GangGangGang]

0% chance this happens. Dont expect cards to take place anywhere else other than Vegas and Fight Island for the next while.

 

[BakaSurvivor]

Nope

 

[Eiger]

I'm under the impression that the UFC has an extremely generous setup and help in Abu Dhabi, where they have been settling in for 3-4 weeks at a time. And of course in Vegas they have their HQ, the Apex, PI, and probably other factors or benefits that help make pulling off events in these times easier for them.

I can't think of an upside of going to NZ, or anywhere else for that matter, to setup all the necessary procedures and accommodations for a one-off event in an empty arena. Maybe if NZ authorities were willing to match what the sheikhs in AD are doing, and the UFC could schedule a 3-4 cards there.

 

[seeyouaunty]

NZ will never allow it, foreigners are completely banned. We got lucky that we never had many infected people come here in the first place and got to learn from hard hit areas before it ever reached our shores. The fact that we control our borders is key (as well as living at the bottom of bumfuk nowhere lol), if we had an open land border that people illegally crossed every day we'd never be able to keep it out.

 

[Maori]

No way NZ opens back up to that level of international travel in order to allow that many foreign fighters, their coaches, and UFC staff to flood their COVID free country. They worked pretty hard and were strict as fuck to get to this point. Even with a fully vaccinated population I doubt they open up the borders to let outsiders in by the hundreds or thousands any time in the next year.

They were happy to accomodate international rugby in front of a sold out stadium

 

[Prologue]

New Zealand's tourism board working overtime to bring in the UFC.

 

[Big Tuppy Hole]

I'm under the impression that the UFC has an extremely generous setup and help in Abu Dhabi, where they have been settling in for 3-4 weeks at a time. And of course in Vegas they have their HQ, the Apex, PI, and probably other factors or benefits that help make pulling off events in these times easier for them.

I can't think of an upside of going to NZ, or anywhere else for that matter, to setup all the necessary procedures and accommodations for a one-off event in an empty arena. Maybe if NZ authorities were willing to match what the sheikhs in AD are doing, and the UFC could schedule a 3-4 cards there.

Why would the Arena be empty?