UFC eyes Arizona if Vegas can't host May 30 card

UFC president Dana White said late Saturday night that if the promotion can’t hold its May 30 event at its Apex building in Las Vegas, then the card will take place in Arizona.

Combat sports remain suspended indefinitely in Nevada, but Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said Tuesday that sports can return to his state beginning Saturday.

“If we can’t get May 30 at the Apex, it’s going to be super disappointing, but we will go somewhere else,” White said.

When asked if Arizona would be the new destination, White said: “That’s 100 percent where I’ll go.”

The UFC wrapped up an intense week of three cards in eight days at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. Fans weren’t allowed at the events because of guidelines related to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I’m happy to have it behind me,” White said. “I wanted this week to be over. It was successful in every way it can be successful. I feel great about it.”

One fighter, Jacare Souza, and two of his cornermen tested positive for the coronavirus amid multiple rounds of testing during the events in Jacksonville.

While White said he’s looking forward to heading home to Nevada, he thanked Jacksonville, which hosted the only major sporting events in the country since mid-March.

“I think we picked the perfect place to do it,” White said. “This town was perfect for it. Everybody was great. This arena was incredible. I couldn’t say enough good things about Jacksonville and the experience here. So I’m glad we did it here first. I’m ready to go home, though.”