While the world’s premiere mixed martial arts organization is planning to resume operations on April 18, another organization has issued a recommendation that all combat sports be postponed for the foreseeable future.
The board of directors for the Association of Ringside Physicians (ARP) released a statement advising against combat sports being held during the coronavirus pandemic. ARP claims that anyone involved in the event is “under unnecessary risk of infection and transmission of COVID-19,” regardless of the number of people present during a competition. The recommendation also points out that combat sports athletes frequently require medical attention after their bouts, which could be an issue as hospitals deal with an influx of coronavirus patients during the global pandemic.