UFC Freedom 250 weather backup plan includes live broadcast delays

UFC Freedom 250 will air rain or shine this Sunday, but the promotion has sketched out a loose contingency plan if weather threatens the historic White House event.

Chief Content Officer Craig Borsari told reporters at media day that UFC has options to keep the broadcast running if storms roll through Washington, D.C., during the card. "We have a few options," Borsari said, per MMA Mania. "One is to stay on air, and we have contingency planning where we can remain on air and continue to broadcast from a location close by the South Lawn." A meteorologist will be on site feeding updates to production, and if a system looks like it will pass quickly, the show will pause rather than scrub fights.

Real-time weather calls and multiple Octagon canvases

Borsari said the decision to delay or push through will be made fight by fight. "We'll have to figure out what the window looks like," he said. "Do we have the ability to resume, or what is the extent of the weather front that is coming through?" Dana White said earlier this month that three different cage canvases were produced in case one gets soaked or damaged. The current forecast shows temperatures in the upper 80s at main card time with mostly cloudy skies and a 20 percent chance of rain, meaning heat and humidity could be bigger factors than storms.

The Paramount Plus card airs Sunday night with Ilia Topuria defending the lightweight title against Justin Gaethje in the main event and Alex Pereira moving up to challenge Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight strap in the co-main. Both bouts take place outdoors on the South Lawn to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Rain or shine? UFC Freedom 250 weather-related contingency plans revealed (sorta)