There were masks on faces around the Octagon. There were no fans in the stands.
“Nothing makes sense,” said Daniel Cormier, another part of the socially distanced broadcast team.
It didn’t have to. After eight-plus weeks without a live sporting event in the United States that wasn’t a horse race, UFC 249 stepped into the coronavirus void, offering a welcome diversion, a welcome bit of normalcy, a welcome Saturday night of fighting.
There were 11 fights, five stoppages, two title bouts and one announced retirement (from the great Henry Cejudo). It was tremendously entertaining, humans’ original sport — combat — delivering during our latest global challenge.