BREAKING: Corona virus spread might cancel KSW 53
The spread of the dangerous COVIID-19 virus, also called the Corona virus, has affected much of the world. UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili was forced to leave her home country of China early ahead of last weekend’s UFC 248 amidst concerns of the spread of the virus. Now, according to a source to MMAnytt, the threat of the Corona virus may drastically affect Polish MMA promotion KSW. On Saturday, March 21st, KSW 53: Fight Code is booked for the Atlas Arena in Lodz, Poland.
The source, who has information from the Polish promotion and chose to speak under anonymity, claims that concerns over the spread of the Corona virus may force KSW 53 to occur without an audience, under closed doors, or be cancelled entirely.
“They [will] consider either fighting without [an] audience or just cancelling the show,” The source tells MMAnytt. “KSW will release [a] final statement tomorrow.”
As of now KSW have not commented on the subject, but are according to the source planning on addressing it Wednesday, March 11th.
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This would not be a strange occurrence, relative to the local situation. Earlier today Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told world media that all mass events in Poland will be cancelled. KSW’s actions would simply be in line with the orders of the Polish government.
“At this morning’s meeting we took a decision to call off all mass events,” Morawiecki told a news conference, via New York Times.
KSW 53 is headlined by a welterweight title fight between champ Roberto Soldic and veteran Mauriusz Zaromskis. It also features bouts featuring UFC veterans Denis Stojnic and Edmilson Souza, as well as local star Michal Materla and TUF 28 contestant Przemyslaw Mysiala.
Singapore-based ONE Championship were forced to hold their most recent event behind closed doors. ONE Championship 109: King of the Jungle, taking place in the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Jakarta, with no fans in attendance. In Italy football/soccer matches have also been played inside near-empty arenas, or cancelled alltogether.
The effect that the deadly Corona virus will have on the global MMA community remains to be seen. To contain the spread it may be more altruistic to not take any unnecessary risks.
