The deadly coronavirus that has spread throughout China and other countries could force the UFC to change plans when it comes to their events in Auckland and Las Vegas.
Auckland is set to host UFC Fight Night on February 22 which will see Chinese fighter Xiaonan Yan go head to head with Karolina Kowalkiewicz.
Las Vegas meanwhile is the city of choice for UFC 248 on March 7.
Weili Zhang, who also heils from China, will defend her UFC strawweight title against Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
Tacheng-born Jinglian Li is also on the fight card at UFC 248.
Deadly Virus
But the outbreak of the deadly virus in China means that things are currently being monitored closely by the UFC, as there are fears of the disease spreading worldwide.
Celebrations are currently underway for the Lunar New Year, China’s most important holiday.
But large parts of the country are on lockdown as the Chinese government tries to stop the virus from spreading further.
The three Chinese fighters who are set to fight in the coming months all train in Beijing.
The capital hasn’t yet had any confirmed cases of the virus, but there’s still potential for them to be affected significantly.
Lockdown
Ruy Menezes, who trains Yan and Li, says the plan is to fly to Auckland in February before making their way to Las Vegas.
He says if the worst does happen and the virus reaches Beijing, they’ll be forced to change plans.
He told MMA Fighting: “We’ll travel earlier to New Zealand if the virus comes to Beijing, but I don’t think that will be necessary,”
“We’ll only do it if the worst happens, and I don’t even know if New Zealand would let people from China in if that was the case.”
“But I don’t think that will happen because the Chinese government already has the cities that are dealing with this problem on lockdown.”
‘Being Careful’
The trainer said things are continuing as normal, but there’s an element of caution as the situation is monitored.
“Life goes on, but we’re being careful,” he continued.
“I’ve warned my jiu-jitsu students that if anyone is coughing or experiencing fever, cold or headache, don’t come to the gym when I reopen it, because I won’t let them in.”
Zhang’s camp meanwhile have expressed confidence that her headline clash with Jedrzejczyk won’t be affected.
Zhang’s manager Brian Butler told MMA Fighting: “Weili and her camp have not been affected at all and have always kept a pretty tight circle,”
“She is having the best camp of her career so far.”
The situation will be watched closely as UFC Auckland looms.
(Featured image source: Twitter/ CNN and Instagram/ Weili Zhang)