Nevada Suspends All Combat Sports Until Further Notice

The last hope of the UFC holding an event in Nevada for the time being is gone, as the NASC has suspended all combat sports in the state. NSAC Executive Director Bob Bennett has confirmed to MMA Weekly that the state has suspended all unarmed combat sports until further notice. The decree puts an indefinite lock on MMA and boxing after an initial suspension was levied on March 14th pending a commission meeting.

The decision is, of course, related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak had issued a stay-at-home order on March 22nd, which shut down public meetings and non-essential businesses. That order runs until April 16th, though it is likely to be extended in the face of DOnald Trump’s extending of the federal social distancing guidelines to April 30th.

Bennett said that there’s no direct timeline for when the suspension will ve lifted and that the NSAC will follow the guidance of “the science regarding COVID-19.”

The statement reads:

“As of this date (Sunday, April 5) the NSAC will not have any Unarmed Combat events until further notice. We will listen and follow the science regarding COVID-19 and move forward with events accordingly. The health and safety of the fighters, their camps, the fans and our staff is the number one priority.”