Las Vegas is Once Again the Fight Capital of the World

Las Vegas in Once Again the Fight Capital of the World

Las Vegas appears set to return to its Fight Capital of the World status this Saturday with UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs Burns, kicking off what will hopefully be a myriad of fight cards in June.

The Nevada Athletic Commission will hold its first meeting in over two months Wednesday to review the UFC’s new health and safety regulations designed to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Should these implementations prove to be sufficient for the NAC, the state could begin licensing combat events in time for the planned UFC Fight Night on May 30 featuring former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley taking on Gilbert Burns.

Other pending license inquiries up for discussion Wednesday are for UFC 250 on June 6th as well as two boxing events promoted by Top Rank on June 9th and 11th. The UFC plans to hold its two shows at their UFC APEX facility, whereas Top Rank will look to return to the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The three previously held fight cards in Jacksonville, Florida, had the UFC administer over 1,100 COVID-19 tests and instill social distance measures in a week-long series of closed-door events. In all, three positive tests came back after “Jacare” Souza, and two of his cornermen were discovered to be asymptomatic but positive the night before UFC 249.

After that initial setback, the following days went by with no new developments on the Coronavirus front, and the events themselves delivered numerous memorable fights.

Prior to the NAC’s (Nevada Athletic Commission) announcement of a new meeting Wednesday, the UFC was preparing a backup plan to take the May 30th event to Arizona, should they fail to get licensed. But with the NAC meeting in place, it seems good news is on the horizon for the UFC holding its next events at the APEX.

The UFC has also scheduled fight cards to take place every Saturday through June 27th, although they have yet to announce a likely location for the events following UFC 250.

The dates in question were all previously linked to arenas in Kazakhstan, Saskatoon, and Austin, Texas. But these locations have since been canceled. Still, the UFC continues to add bouts for these events, pending new location announcements. Dana White has previously stated that the infrastructure for the announced Fight Island could be ready sometime in June.

But if any setbacks should occur on that front, the UFC APEX would seem to be the likely choice to host these fights, given the ease with which the UFC could operate within its headquarters as well as the benefits of having training facilities and other amenities for fighters to remain safe during fight week.

As for Top Rank, they also plan to hold multiple shows every week over the next two months, although the only dates up for discussion Wednesday will be June 9 and 11. CEO Bob Arum has said they want to hold three events the first week back, but there is no venue announced for the June 18 card yet.

Arum has kept the fight cards mostly under wraps as well. Reports have come out that the June 9th headliner could be WBO featherweight champion Shakur Stevenson taking on an unnamed opponent in a non-title fight. And the June 11th card will likely see a catchweight fight between former WBO junior featherweight champion Jessie Magdaleno and Yenifel Vicente as the main event.

The dry spell is nearly over. The Fight Capital is gearing up to host a deluge of fights in a combat-heavy June.

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-Leo Schauer – Franchise Sports Media

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