MMA Media Who Attend UFC 249 Should Be Under The Microscope
Or What Will You Do With Dana White's Blessing?
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Today I discuss Dana White saying that select media will attend UFC 249.
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During Dana White’s recent interview with ESPN he said the UFC would invite a few media members to UFC 249. With all the things going on behind the scenes, it’s hard to see White and the UFC inviting anyone who takes the least bit of an adversarial approach to covering the UFC to the event.
That’s a concern.
There’s a non-zero chance the UFC could attempt to influence on-site media coverage of this event. The promotion has the ability to do that by restricting access. If the media can’t ask questions to the medical team at the location or someone with the UFC or whoever is overseeing the event as the commission, than the coverage the media will provide will be little more than post-fight interviews and results. The UFC will be happy if that’s all that is covered. If that is all we get from the media at the event, that will be a terrible outcome.
In an ideal situation, the UFC would allow the media unfettered access to everyone at the event and the media would report on everything it could when it comes to the health and safety measures at the event. That includes not just the fighters, but everyone who works the event, from the folks who set up the seating to the person who turns out the lights after the location has been cleaned and secured.
I’d put the odds of the UFC allowing that type of access at close to zero.
The question then becomes, if you are a media member and White extends the offer to attend the event, do you do so and do you report if you were restricted in your access or ability to ask questions? Also, do you even attend the event if the UFC does not give you assurances of the safety measures?
There will a lot to unpack regarding the media who attend UFC 249 if the event does take place at Tachi Palace. That’s another thing to keep an eye on when it comes to the fight card.