Sports around the world are beginning to operate again behind closed doors. Fans of soccer were delighted to see the return of on-field action earlier this month as the Bundesliga became the first league to restart following the coronavirus pandemic. Sport in the USA is slowly getting back on its feet, and it will no doubt be moving at a much quicker speed after it was revealed that the ban on combat sports, such as boxing and MMA, has been lifted by Nevada state authorities.
The end to the ban means that boxing and MMA events can once again take place in the state, which would come as a welcome sight for UFC president Dana White. UFC events have continued to take place regardless, but have been recorded from outside of Las Vegas. The most recent huge card at UFC 249 took place at the Jacksonville Arena, with Justin Gaethje shocking fans by beating Tony Ferguson by KO/TKO in round five.
UFC Action To Return To Vegas
The news comes in the nick of time, as the UFC have an event slated for this weekend, with the event taking place at the Apex. The hard-hitting night of action will be headlined by the welterweight bout between Tyron Woodley and Gilbert Burns. BetOnline.ag makes Tyron Woodley the big favourite to get the win in the fight, as he is currently valued at -182. Woodley holds a career record of 19-4-1 and has beaten Darren Till, Demian Maia and Stephen Thompson in the past two years.
Combat sports had been banned in the state since the 14th March, which forced the UFC to change locations for their matchups. The company switched locations to Jacksonville, Florida, with all events taking place behind closed doors. All three events that took place behind closed doors were seen as successes for the company, with protocols in place to ensure that the risk of coronavirus spreading was minimal.
Boxing Set To Make Its Return To Vegas
Boxing fans will also be delighted with the announcement, as all eyes will now be on whether the scheduled Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder fight will go ahead later this year. The first boxing event in Sin City is scheduled to take place on the 9th June, and will be a Top Rank promotion. There are still doubts whether the fight between Fury and Wilder will go ahead as planned, with persistent reports indicating that a bout between Fury and Joshua could instead to precedence.
No official announcement has yet been made, with both Joshua’s challenge and Wilder both admitting that they will not be stepping aside. It’s also unlikely that the fight could happen this year, as it would mean the boxers taking a slightly smaller purse due to less money being taken in ticket sales. Wilder vs Fury will be one of the biggest fights of the year, and fans will ultimately be disappointed if they are unable to see the fight live in Vegas.
