The UFC’s 2025 schedule of occasions includes a mild January itinerary, concluding with Saturday evening’s UFC 311. Inside america, you possibly can preorder UFC 311 on ESPN+ right this moment.
Whereas the official schedule of occasions for subsequent weekend in fight sports activities signifies that this card continues to be booked for the Los Angeles space, particularly Intuit Dome, the brand new house court docket of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, the promotion faces a troublesome determination as as to if or to not transfer the occasion out of Southern California on a couple of days’ discover. For those who’ve been following the assorted night newscasts in latest days, Los Angeles and its surrounding communities have been coping with wildfires.
Not serving to issues for Los Angelinos is the truth that winds are forecast to strengthen as soon as extra, regardless of efforts being made to include the wildfires. Regardless that the Clippers’ X (previously Twitter) account posted on Friday that the sector nonetheless intends to carry UFC 311 as initially deliberate this coming weekend, UFC CEO Dana White is ready for something.
Our recreation tomorrow has been postponed by the @NBA because of the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles and out of respect for the general public service sources wanted throughout this time.
Tickets for the sport in opposition to the Hornets shall be honored on the rescheduled date. pic.twitter.com/m299WXLt2U
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 11, 2025
Dana White Mentions Relocation of UFC 311 to Las Vegas Nonetheless a Risk
Shifting the Jan. 18 card away from Intuit Dome in Englewood, CA could be the most recent determination to relocate a sporting occasion out of the Los Angeles space in response to the wildfires. Forward of the beginning of the NFL Wild Card Playoffs, the league elected to maneuver the NFC Wild Card Recreation between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams away from Sofi Stadium.
In Sofi Stadium’s stead, State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ, the house ballpark of the Arizona Cardinals, will play host to the Vikings vs. Rams contest within the final Monday Evening Soccer recreation of this NFL season.
Dana White has been monitoring the scenario in Southern California intently forward of UFC 311 on Saturday night. Though White stated as not too long ago as Friday that there wouldn’t be a change in venue, Sunday, he introduced contingency plans.
“If the fireplace will get dangerous, we’re coming to [Las] Vegas,” White started. “We’ll transfer it to Vegas if it will get too dangerous. However as of now, it’s all [a] go. The NBA’s going to go this week. We’re going to go [on Saturday night].”
It goes with out saying that if a choice on the standing of UFC 311 in Los Angeles is to be made, it must be finalized within the coming days.
California State Athletic Fee Weighs In on Standing of UFC 311
The California State Athletic Fee (CSAC) is ready to sanction UFC 311 on Saturday evening if the occasion nonetheless takes place in Los Angeles. As of this previous Friday, CSAC nonetheless anticipated the primary pay-per-view of the brand new yr from MMA’s prime promotion to originate from Intuit Dome.
“We’re watching the continued wildfires and subsequent emergency and catastrophe response within the Los Angeles space,” CSAC stated on the time. “Our hearts are with the residents of the area, and we recognize the efforts of first responders in conserving the group secure. At the moment, no selections have been made about UFC 311, however we’ll proceed to work with state and native officers and the UFC to find out one of the best plan of action.”
🚨UFC 311 UPDATE🚨
Reached out to the California State Athletic Fee relating to the standing of UFC 311 in mild of the devastating fires sweeping via Los Angeles.
Because it stands:
“No selections have been made about shifting UFC 311.”
They’ll “proceed to work with state… pic.twitter.com/Q9IXSGMjSu
— Chisanga Malata (@Chisanga_Malata) January 10, 2025
The mixture of CSAC’s official assertion from Friday afternoon and Dana White’s feedback on Sunday afternoon have renewed dialogue over whether or not the promotion ought to go forward with UFC 311 in Southern California as scheduled this coming weekend.
Closing Ideas
Whereas no definitive determination has been made to the host venue and host metropolis for UFC 311 on Saturday evening has been made as we head into struggle week, consideration shall be paid to those selections, simply as consideration shall be paid to the principle occasion and co-main occasion.
UFC 311 is presently forecast to be headlined by a championship doubleheader. Within the co-main occasion of the night, Merab Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) and Umar Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) lock horns for the UFC Bantamweight Championship, whereas the principle occasion will see a battle for the UFC Light-weight Championship between Islam Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) and Arman Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC.)
