After the coronavirus brought the sports world to a standstill for the first half of 2020, several major sports organizations, including the MLB, NBA, Premier League, and the UFC have resumed operations with precautions. European soccer and international combat sports were the first to return, and both have been marked with great success. In the wake of those triumphs, regional combat sports promotions have begun booking and having shows, and Atlas Fights is set to be the first major promotion on the Gulf Coast to have a successful return show.

Atlas Fights 54 Biloxi MMA Beach Bash is scheduled for tonight, August 1st, from the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi. Major precautions have been taken to ensure best possible safety outcomes for staff, fighters and fans. Dozens of Covid-19 tests were administered at weigh-ins yesterday for fighters and cornermen. During weigh-ins, all Covid-19 safety measures prescribed by the state of Mississippi and the CDC were observed: the room where weigh-ins took place was held to a minimum capacity with 6-foot social distance rules applied, masks were required at all times, there was 1-way traffic in the room, with one designated entrance and exit to eliminate cross-traffic human-to-human interaction, there were sanitation stations setup at each post, hands and forearms were sanitized before entering the building, and there were two doctors present at all times. After registration and Covid testing, fighters were then directed back to their hotel rooms to quarantine, and fighters which represent the red corner are stationed in different buildings then fighters in the blue corner, all to minimize contact.

With the dozens of Covid-19 tests administered yesterday, only 1 test came back this morning as positive. That fighter had been in quarantine since the test was administered, and he has since been informed of the result and has made his way back home. His fight has obviously been scratched from the card, and the show will go on as scheduled with the remaining 7 bouts.

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