With the UFC 249 pay-per-view event in jeopardy, Khabib Nurmagomedov has shared a potential alternative for his next title-defence.
The undefeated Russian is scheduled to defend his lightweight championship in the said fight card on April 18 in New York against the very dangerous contender, Tony Ferguson.
Both coming off a 12-fight winning streak, the lightweight title clash is being dubbed as the most anticipated fight in the UFC history, with ‘El Cucuy’ regarded as the toughest test for Khabib to date.
The matchup has been booked four times in the past but it never materialized because of freak injuries and health issues.
For the fifth time, the Khabib-Ferguson fight curse could strike again as the April card is likely to be cancelled/postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, which forced several countries including the United States to impose travel restrictions and ban large gatherings such as sporting events.
Still Scheduled
The Nevada-based promotion has decided to postpone its next three fight night events that are set for March 21, March 28, and April 11, but the UFC 249 fight card remains ‘scheduled as planned.’
UFC president Dana White has vowed to bounce back tougher and stronger from the recent setbacks the organization is currently dealing.
“As you heard me say, I’ve been in the fight game for 20 years, and this is what we do—we find a way to keep our events going no matter what,” White said (per MMA Fighting).
“If fighters miss weight, if fighters get hurt, or if states won’t regulate us, we figure out a way. But this is different.”
“The whole world is being affected right now, and nothing is more important than the health and safety of you and your families.”
“The next three events– London, Columbus, and Portland—will be postponed. UFC 249 is still scheduled as planned, but the location may change. We’ll keep you posted.”
“I tell you guys all the time, you are the BEST TO EVER DO IT. It feels sh*tty now, but WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS, and we’ll be TOUGHER, STRONGER, AND MORE BADASS than before.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9opGRsoy2Z/
Recognize The Champion
Despite the uncertainty surrounding UFC 249, the American Kickboxing Academy standout is still spending time on the gym to prepare for his next title-retention attempt.
The venue for the highly-anticipated match is expected to be moved to a different arena as New York has recorded the second most number of COVID-19 cases in the US.
For Nurmagomedov, he is willing to share the Octagon with Ferguson in an empty arena and is confident he will come out with the victory.
“Just close us in the arena and you will recognize the champion. #ufc249 #andStill” he suggested in a recent Instagram post.
Khabib is fresh off a submission win over Dustin Poirier and currently ranks second in the pound-for-pound list with a 28-0 win-loss record.
(Featured Image Source: Instagram/ Tony Ferguson and UFC)