UFC 311 is scheduled to take place on January 18, with Islam Makhachev set to defend his title. The Russian-Armenian fighter Arman Tsarukyan is challenging for the lightweight championship. However, the highly anticipated fight is now at risk of being canceled.
A force majeure event has interfered with Dana White’s plans for the event.
Fires in California
UFC 311 is scheduled to take place on January 19 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. This event is especially important for Russian MMA fans, as three Russians are set to compete in two title fights. However, there is a risk that the bouts between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan, as well as Umar Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili, may not happen—at least not at the planned location and time.
For those who follow international news even superficially, the reason is obvious. It is difficult to avoid information about the widespread fires in California during these winter days. Even focusing on those affected solely in the world of sports is terrifying in scale. Five-time Olympic swimming champion Gary Hall Jr. lost his home, livelihood, and 10 medals. The family of Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick was affected by the fires. Former Mexican national football team player and Arsenal star Carlos Vela lost his home in Malibu. In total, in just three days, the disaster forced around 180,000 Californians to leave their homes, and at least 10 people lost their lives.
In such a situation, it is no surprise to hear about postponed NBA, NHL, and other professional sports league games. Undoubtedly, there is still some time before UFC 311 begins, and the home arena of the Los Angeles Clippers, where the fight night is scheduled to take place, is not located in the epicenter of the disaster. However, firstly, the situation could improve in a few days, but, if events take a turn for the worse, it could also get worse. Secondly, for organizing difficulties, the arena doesn’t necessarily need to be on fire; smoke problems in the surrounding area are enough. Thirdly, there is a suspicion that, under any circumstances, Los Angeles residents are likely not focused on entertainment right now.
Fires in California: © Mario Tama / Staff / Getty Images News / Gettyimages.ru
Postponement, Relocation, or Cancellation?
While Dana White remains silent about the fate of the upcoming event, a concert by rapper Rod Wave has already been canceled at the same Intuit Dome. Is he hoping the problem will resolve itself, or is he simply unsure? In fact, UFC has two most obvious solutions, apart from outright cancellation – postponing the event in Los Angeles to another date or relocating it to a different venue.
The boy saved the rabbit from being burned in the fire #LosAngelesFire #CaliforniaWildfires #LosAngelesWildfires #California #LosAngeles #PalisadesFire pic.twitter.com/g9IAtyStGh
— Sara 🇵🇸 (@saraanwar45) January 9, 2025
For Makhachev and other fighters, the second option is likely preferred. They have structured their training and peaked their form for the specific date. Except, perhaps, for Umar Nurmagomedov, who recently broke his arm, postponing the event might actually work to his benefit. However, if the issues were truly serious, the Russian could have pulled out of the fight due to health reasons without any need for rescheduling.
For relocation, Las Vegas might be the perfect option. The “T-Mobile Arena” there has no concerts or NHL games scheduled for January 19. Of course, relocating won’t come without challenges: MMA fans who planned to attend the event in California might not be prepared for a trip to Nevada. However, during the COVID era, UFC organized events without any spectators, so Dana White has experience dealing with unforeseen circumstances. The fighters, however, surely want some clarity as soon as possible so they can focus solely on preparing for the event, yet the leadership of the Ultimate Fighting Championship doesn’t seem in a hurry to clarify the situation.