UFC president Dana White received a great deal of criticism for being the last major professional sports figure to resist canceling events because of the coronavirus pandemic.
He didn’t call off UFC 249, which was scheduled for Saturday, until last Thursday.
None of that criticism came from local fighter Khama Worthy, who was scheduled to compete on the card.
Worthy was planning to travel to California for a lightweight bout against Michael Johnson at an empty arena on Native American tribal land. When word came down the card was canceled, Worthy, a 33-year-old from Moon, wasn’t relieved. He was profoundly disappointed.
Worthy was eager to fight for several reasons.
First, he was satisfied with the safety measures the UFC had in place.
“They were going to test everybody,” Worthy said. “We were all going to get tested before and after. They’re doing everything they need to do. I was really looking forward to going.”
Second, he has a bone to pick with the way the word “essential” is being used in relation to coronavirus restrictions imposed by the government.
“A lot of people are like, ‘You don’t have to do it. You don’t have to do it,’ ” Worthy said. “I’m like, we don’t have to do a whole bunch of stuff. You guys are up there shopping at Giant Eagle every (expletive) day. You don’t need the stuff. No one is eating to their last food. People are eating like they regularly do. People are out shopping.
“If we were doing essential, everything should shut down. We don’t need internet. We don’t need cable. We don’t need any of that. It’s not essential. Essential is what you need to survive, so your life can continue. You can’t say, ‘Oh, Amazon’s essential right now.’ No, that’s what you want to make you feel comfortable. So don’t get mad if someone else says, ‘This is what we think we need. This is essential to us.’ ”
Finally, Worthy thinks sports can send an important message at this juncture in history.
“If anything, us doing this fight will display that things will get back to normal in life,” Worthy said. “You’ve got to be able to fight and get back.”
When White announced the fight card was canceled, he promised that UFC would be the first sports organization back when restrictions ease.
Worthy believes him.
“I think so, too, simply because of what the sport needs,” Worthy said. “Football games need an audience. It’s just part of it. No one really wants to watch baseball with no one there. It’s weird. It’s too different. With MMA, it’s a small arena. It can literally be done in a small room. I think they’ll get back to it.”
White also said he would financially “take care” of the fighters who were committed to the UFC 249 card to the end.
Worthy believes that too.
“I’m pretty sure he’ll do whatever is necessary for us fighters,” Worthy said. “Hopefully, I can get another fight lined up sometime soon, in the next two months or so.”
While Worthy awaits his next fight, he is locked in another battle. Like many Western Pennsylvanians, he is a small business owner trying to keep his company afloat.
Worthy owns The Academy of Martial Arts and Fitness. He is in the process of moving the gym from a location on Campbells Run Road in Robinson to a new spot on Woodville Avenue in the West End.
“You’re financially in a tight spot,” Worthy said. “Next month, I’m going to start doing online (training) and see if a couple of students want to do that to help keep us afloat. Hopefully, everything gets back to normal, and we’ll start doing regular classes again.”
