Fully vaccinated fighters, corner staff won't be tested for COVID-19 before UFC 270

The UFC gave sports fans yearning for live and fresh content in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic new shows in the spring of 2020 while other North American professional sports leagues remained shut down. It appears the promotion is once again taking a step toward relative normalcy despite worrisome coronavirus spikes throughout the United States. 

Per Marc Raimondi of ESPN, UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell confirmed Tuesday that fully vaccinated and asymptomatic fighters and corner people will not have to undergo COVID-19 testing or quarantine during fight week ahead of Saturday's UFC 270 event headlined by a heavyweight title unification bout between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane. Such personnel will have to produce negative results in pre-arrival tests, and they'll be tested for the virus before their scheduled departures. 

Fighters and corner staff not considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 must still quarantine during the week and will be tested twice for the virus. Additionally, California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) doctors will require symptomatic fighters and corner people to test negative for COVID-19 to remain part of the UFC 270 card taking place at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. 

The UFC is following in the footsteps of other organizations looking to avoid potential schedule disruptions caused by positive COVID-19 test results linked with the highly contagious but hoped-to-be less severe Omicron variant. It was reported earlier on Tuesday that the NHL and NHL Players' Association have agreed to stop testing asymptomatic athletes and staff members after next month's All-Star break. 

It's currently unclear if other athletic commissions will adopt the COVID-19 protocols embraced by the CSAC for this weekend's event.