UFC closes off Saturday’s card at Apex facility to media, public

The UFC has closed off Saturday’s UFC Battle Night time card at its Apex facility in Las Vegas to the general public in addition to the media.

The corporate declined to offer a motive for the closure on the time of the announcement earlier this week, however UFC president Dana White mentioned Tuesday that he simply wished to present the media “an evening off.”

Nonetheless, girls’s strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern, who’s preventing in Saturday’s predominant occasion, instructed reporters Wednesday that the explanation behind the closure is Meta chief government officer Mark Zuckerberg.

Talking at a media day on Wednesday in Las Vegas, Dern (12-2), who’s scheduled to face China’s Yan Xiaonan (15-3), offered her understanding that the closure is linked to Zuckerberg.

“I do know Mark Zuckerberg rented out the entire occasion,” Dern mentioned. “I do know he’ll be there, however I do not know if it is actually him, his spouse or if he’ll have pals — some kind of occasion. However from somebody who wished a predominant occasion with a crowd, [it’s now] going to be very, very personal.”

Dern added: “I am excited. That simply makes me extra pushed to placed on a great present. I do know everyone seems to be watching on TV, however for Mark and whoever goes to be there, placed on a present. If that is what they wish to see, is a present, then we will give a present.”

Earlier this week, the UFC alerted its common media members that there can be no press credentials issued for Saturday’s card. The occasion can be closed to public tickets.

The UFC has nonetheless not commented on the matter apart from White, who maintained on Tuesday there’s “no huge secret” behind the choice.

Zuckerberg, 38, is a identified fan of combined martial arts and really made headlines earlier this month when he posted video of himself doing MMA drills.