What a weekend with UFC and WWE NXT airing special live shows during these times
UFC and WWE are two of the leaders in producing shows and conducting them safely during these trying times.
With rules, regulations, restrictions and regular testing — stemming from COVID-19 — UFC and WWE recently proved once again to the world that it can be done.
They delivered action-packed cards on TV for those staying in their homes over the weekend.
Apropos, WWE showcased NXT TakeOver: In Your House on Sunday on the WWE Network. The previous night UFC held UFC 250 via ESPN+.
NXT TakeOver: In Your House emanated from Full Sail Live at Full Sail University in Winter Park. UFC 250 stood its ground at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
NXT integrated old school (including a classic Dok Hendrix photo) with new school throughout the NXT In Your House 2020 version. WWE In Your House served as a staple pay-per-view for the company in the mid to late 1990s.
It’s a credit to both companies to create new content, new shows, whether it’s new fights or new shows with some nostalgia. I like nostalgia done right, and NXT did it right.
Even with the venues tagged “closed to the public,” I don’t know if people realize how amazing is the work of their (UFC and NXT) teams, completing the job, especially while navigating through challenging, unchartered waters, like this.
A successful weekend opens the door to more
Hats off to UFC President Dana White and his team and WWE Executive Vice President of Global Talent Strategy & Development Paul “Triple H” Levesque and his team on a tremendous weekend of UFC and WWE NXT.
Pro wrestling actually started it all in April, delivering TV broadcast shows safely from Florida, the first state to open its doors to sports entertainment. Horse racing, too, but that’s a different breed of sport.
Then UFC returned successfully in early May (amazingly with three shows in eight days, all from Jacksonville, Florida), followed by NASCAR in South Carolina and Bundesliga soccer in Germany.
Golf in Texas and the English Premier League soccer in England are next.
The NBA and NHL are currently gearing for returns. MLS, too. NFL and NCAA football look like a go. All with health and safety guidelines, rules in place.
MLB? Who knows. Sadly, it has its own internal issues.
When and how crowds return? That’s another matter in itself, but at least we can watch live sports live via television and technology platforms. They provide a break, a fun outlet from all the other day-to-day monotony during these trying times globally.
Bosses talk
Paul “Triple H” Levesque conducted a media conference call Q&A with national and international press, following NXT TakeOver: In Your House.
Here he discusses NXT TakeOver: In Your House, developing talent during COVID-19, NXT women’s champ Io Shirai, NXT women’s division, Damian Priest, Karrion Kross and more.
Here he talks about his new job title, NXT TakeOver: In Your House, NXT champ Adam Cole, Velveteen Dream, any injuries during the show, NXT North American champ Keith Lee, Henry Godwin, Finn Balor, Damian Priest, the NXT crew and staff and more.
Catch NXT at 8 p.m. ET Wednesdays on USA Network.
In my 1-on-1 audio interview with Dana White the day before UFC 250, he discusses UFC two-division champion Amanda Nunes, American Top Team, UFC, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Jacksonville, South Florida, Shahid and Tony Khan, Fight Island and more.
Since the interview, White revealed Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates as the location for UFC Fight Island. His island concept allows international athletes, who can not enter the United States because of travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, an opportunity to fight.
UFC will host four events on Fight Island in July, starting with UFC 251 pay-per-view on July 11. UFC Fight Night cards will follow there on July 15, 18 and 25.
The next UFC Fight Night from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas is Saturday, June 13 on ESPN and ESPN+, headlined by Jessica Eye (15-7) vs. Cynthia Calvillo (8-1-1) in a flyweight battle.
Fighter talk
After making history at UFC 250, The G.O.A.T. Amanda The Lioness Nunes of (South Florida) American Top Team in Coconut Creek participated in the press conference.
Nunes (20-4) successfully defended the UFC women’s featherweight title to become the first UFC fighter to defend two belts (featherweight and bantamweight) while still holding the other.
Nunes, 32, defeated a tough 29-year-old Canadian Felicia Spencer (8-2) of Jungle MMA in Orlando via five-round unanimous decision in the main event.
For this Brazilian’s stellar efforts, Nunes received a well-deserved, piggy-back ride from Conan Silveira, head coach, co-owner and founder of American Top Team to conclude the press conference.
Miami’s Alex Caceres and New York’s Aljamain Sterling participated in a UFC virtual media Q&A after their wins at UFC 250.
Miami’s Alex “Bruce Leeroy” Caceres of Freedom Fighters MMA and the MMA Lab beat Chase “The Dream” Hooper during UFC 250.
The 31-year-old Caceres (16-12, 1 NC) won by unanimous decision in a prelim Featherweight contest.
Hooper, 20, the youngest fighter on the UFC roster, is from Enumclaw, Washington. Now at 9-1-1, he trains at Combat Sports & Fitness.
“The Funk Master” Aljamain Sterling earned a title shot by beating Cory “The Sandman” Sandhagen in a Bantamweight battle on the main card of UFC 250.
The 30-year-old Sterling (19-3) of Serra-Longo Fight Team in Long Island won by submission (rear naked choke) in the first round. He is originally from Uniondale, New York.
The 28-year-old Sandhagen (12-2) trains at Elevation Fight Team in Aurora, Colorado, where he was born and raised.
Taking COVID-19 seriously
For health and safety reasons, UFC and WWE shows are closed to the public. Also stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, precautions with daily testing, rules, small contingents and guidelines are the new norm for all their events, like UFC 250 and NXT TakeOver: In Your House.
NXT Socially Acceptable
NXT Website: https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/
NXT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WWENXT/
NXT Twitter: https://twitter.com/WWENXT
NXT YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/WWEFanNation
UFC Socially Acceptable
UFC Website: https://www.ufc.com/
UFC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UFC/
UFC Twitter: https://twitter.com/ufc
UFC YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/UFC
My Pro Wrestling and MMA Talk on the Web and Social Media
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/fighting/
Twitter: @jimmyv3
YouTube: jim varsallone (jimmyv3 channel)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProWrestlingSouthFlorida/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WWE-WrestleMania-28-Miami-241160769255279/
This story was originally published June 10, 2020 at 12:06 PM.
