UFC 251 postponed due to Australia’s laws during coronavirus pandemic
UFC 251 in Perth, Australia has been postponed due to ongoing government restrictions on mass public gatherings. The event was scheduled for June 7 at Perth’s RAC Arena.
If the UFC wanted to hold the event it would have had to taken place behind closed doors as Australia’s laws prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people in Western Australia. The law is in place to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
The UFC issued a statement on Monday on the postponement of the event.
“Due to current state and national restrictions on public gatherings and travel, UFC 251 originally scheduled for Perth, Western Australia on Sunday, June 7 has been postponed,” the statement read. “UFC looks forward to returning to Perth in the near future with a PPV event in partnership with tourism Western Australia.”
A statement on #UFC251 pic.twitter.com/KDgikDBp95
— UFC_AUSNZ (@UFC_AUSNZ) May 5, 2020
A heavyweight bout between Tai Tuivasa and Jarjis Dando was the only confirmed fight on the card.
It is in unclear on whether or not the UFC will reschedule the event in Australia. The fight card would have been the second time the UFC came to Perth. The city previously held UFC 221 in February, 2018.
The postponement marks the second international event the UFC was forced to pull out of. UFC 250 was originally scheduled to take place in Brazil on May 9, but the event was postponed when a COVID-19 field hospital was placed in the arena where the fights were going to take place.
