UFC Fight Night Brazil is Strangely Not Being Cancelled and Start Time Was Actually Moved up

Considering that almost the entirety of the sports world has taken necessary precautions in the fallout of the evolving outbreak of the coronavirus, this news is genuinely stunning.

According to Brett Okamoto of ESPN, UFC Fight Night in Brazil, which is scheduled for Saturday evening, will NOT be canceled. Instead, the events will be moved up two hours to a 3:00 p.m. ET start time. In addition, the event will now be broadcast on ESPN in addition to ESPN+.

Saturday's UFC Fight Night in Brasilia, Brazil has been moved up two hours, to a start time of 3pm ET. It will air on ESPN+, as well as ESPN now. Empty arena (first reported by @canalCombate). UFC still quiet on future cards. Crazy times.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) March 13, 2020

Brazilian news outlet Combate reported earlier on Thursday that the fights will be played in an empty arena without fans. That news follows the announcement from Brazil governor Ibaneis Rocha that temporarily banned gatherings of large numbers of people.

The UFC is reported to have cancelled its scheduled media day on Thursday and its weigh-ins on Friday.

As of this writing, it's yet to be reported if all 24 fighters have been tested for COVID-19, but you have to assume that the UFC instilled this precautionary measure before deciding to move forward with the event.

According to multiple reports out of Brazil, Saturday’s scheduled UFC Fight Night event in Brasilia, Brazil will go on as planned, although fans will not be permitted to attend.https://t.co/N4nUQgHdfY
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 12, 2020

If we've learned anything from this outbreak, it's that news moves fast. One development could change everything, so stay tuned for updates.

The UFC Fight Night in Brazil card is highlighted by lightweights Charles Oliveira and Kevin Lee.