ESPN and Disney forced the cancelation of UFC 249 after pressure from California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Sen. Diane Feinstein

New York Post

UFC president Dana White, who explored putting on UFC 249 on a private island and on a Native American reservation in California, says he received calls from the "highest levels" of Disney telling him to call off the event. The New York Post reports Newsom called Disney chairman Bob Iger and requested ESPN force the UFC to cancel the event set for the Tachi Palace Casino Resort outside of Fresno, California. According to The Post, ESPN agreed that holding the event at this time “just didn’t feel right.” Senator Dianne Feinstein of California also raised the alarm over UFC putting on the event. “I’m concerned by reports that Ultimate Fighting Championship plans to hold a pay-per-view event in California, in defiance of the state’s shelter-in-place order,” Feinstein said in a statement. “This event would involve dozens of individuals flying to California and driving to a casino for a purpose no one can honestly claim is essential. understand this event is scheduled to take place on tribal land and therefore is not subject to state law. However, at best this event ties up medical resources and sends a message that shelter-in-place orders can be flouted. At worst, participants and support staff could carry the virus back to their home communities and increase its spread."