Two weeks after UFC CEO Dana White publicly lifted the ban on national flags in the octagon, the organization has banned participants at UFC 294 from displaying national symbols during the event.
Muhammad Mokayev, a native of Dagestan, who speaks for Great Britain, reported this on social network.
“No flags at UFC 294,” Mokayev wrote.
Also this information was confirmed in an interview with Match TV by the coach of Russian Victoria Dudakova Gasanali Gasanaliev.
“They said that this time with flags is not allowed,” – said the Russian specialist.
A week earlier, Russian Irina Alekseeva carried the Russian flag into the octagon, and Brazilian Michel Pereira unexpectedly came out with the flag of Israel, receiving a negative reaction from fighters and fans who support Palestine in the escalating international conflict.
It is rumored that it was the Brazilian’s act that caused another flag ban, as the appearance of an Israeli flag in Abu Dhabi can have the most unpredictable consequences.
It is not yet known whether the ban on state symbols extends to a single event, or whether it will last until the international situation stabilizes.
The strongest league initially introduced a ban on the display of flags with the start of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine.
Recall that the participants of the tournament UFC 294 will be six Russians, including the current UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, who in the main event of the event will come to the defense of the title against Australian Alexander Volkanovski.
Source: https://fighttime.ru/news/item/32937-ufc-povtorno-vvodit-zapret-na-flagi.html?rand=19907
