UFC 311 is still scheduled to take place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 18, for now. However, as California wildfires continue to rage and impact the area, the possibility of the event moving to another location has been discussed.
According to longtime combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani, there are several important updates and details about the wildfires’ impact on the event.
“UFC has had talks about the status of UFC 311 next weekend, I’m told,” Helwani wrote in an X post on Friday, January 10.
“UFC 311 is currently slated for the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. Obviously, that region is facing a devastating wildfire crisis at the moment. The NFL announced yesterday that they are moving the Rams x Vikings playoff game, scheduled for Monday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, to Glendale, Ariz. As of right now, 311 is staying at Intuit. The hope is it remains there. But they are monitoring and ready to move the card, if need be. No talks of delaying the card. Obviously, that call needs to happen soon. The event is eight days away. Vegas would be the frontrunner. Worth noting: T-Mobile Arena is not booked next Saturday, Jan. 18.”
The fighters involved on the card probably wouldn’t be too inconvenienced by the move. It’s about a one-hour and 15-minute flight from LAX to Las Vegas International Airport. Because the UFC’s Performance Institute is also in Las Vegas, athletes who are on the card will likely get additional support to prepare at the P.I.
The UFC would likely have to refund tickets for fans who already purchased a seat at the Intuit Dome. Some sort of transfer could be handled for fans who are able to make the fight in Vegas, if it were moved.
The fans who wanted to attend the event will be the most negatively impacted, as most will likely lose out on an opportunity to watch the event live.
On a much more important note, White and the UFC have already pledged and volunteered support to people and the regions affected by the wildfires. White took to social media to make it known he and the UFC were at the region’s service.
Here’s to hoping the wildfires are controlled sooner rather than later, and if the people of Los Angeles are able to enjoy the UFC’s presence in their region after this natural disaster, hopefully the event serves as a positive break from a tough reality.
What’s Next For the UFC?
It’s been three weeks, but it feels like two months since the UFC had an event. While the Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas main event at UFC Vegas 101 isn’t one of the most star-studded Fight Night feature bouts you’ll ever see, it is action from the No. 1 MMA promotion in the world.
Here is a look at the card and the weigh-in results.
- Mackenzie Dern (116) vs. Amanda Ribas (116)
- Santiago Ponzinibbio (171) vs. Carlston Harris (170)
- Abdul Razak Alhassan (185.5) vs. Cesar Almeida (185.5)
- Chris Curtis (185.5) vs. Roman Kopylov (185.5)
- Christian Rodriguez (145) vs. Austin Bashi (145.5)
- Uros Medic (171) vs. Punahele Soriano (171)
- Jose Johnson (128.5)* vs. Felipe Bunes (126)
- Marco Tulio (185.5) vs. Ihor Potieria (188)*
- Thiago Moises (155.5) vs. Trey Ogden (155.5)
- Preston Parsons (171) vs. Jacobe Smith (170.5)
- Ernesta Kareckaite (126) vs. Nicolle Caliari (125.5)
- Magomed Gadzhiyasulov (205) vs. Bruno Lopes (205.5)
- Fatima Kline (116) vs. Viktoriia Dudakova (116)
- Nurullo Aliev (155.5) vs. Joe Solecki (155)
*Missed weight