The Ultimate Fighting Championship is set for a major comeback next month as it plans to bring one of its most stacked fight card ever.
Last week, the Nevada-based promotion has decided to postpone the UFC 249 pay-per-view event, which was scheduled to happen on April 18, and its upcoming MMA shows due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“While the organization was fully prepared to proceed with UFC 249, ESPN has requested the postponement of the event and subsequent bouts until further notice in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. UFC looks forward to resuming the full live events schedule as soon as possible,” the promotion said in a statement.
UFC president Dana White also vowed to become the first sports brand to return to a normal schedule, saying “‘Fight Island’ is real. It’s a real thing. The infrastructure’s being built right now, and that’s really going to happen and it will be on ESPN.”
Loaded
On Tuesday, the UFC president informed their broadcast partner, ESPN, that the organization is eyeing a return on May 9 with a loaded fight card that will feature three title fights.
The UFC 250, which is expected to take place in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, has been scrapped, with its main event fight starring Henry Cejudo and Dominick Cruz already moved to the new May 9 card.
Tony Ferguson will headline the event opposite Justin Gaathje, with the interim lightweight title on the line, while Amanda Nunes will defend her featherweight championship for the first time against Felicia Spencer.
The UFC is also currently finalizing a deal for a welterweight match between Donald Cerrone and Anthony Pettis.
Some of the fights from the now-defunct UFC 249 including the heavyweight clash between Francis Ngannou and Jairzinho Rozenstruik are also added to the card.
Here is the targeted full line-up for the May 9 fight card (via ESPN):
Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje – for interim lightweight title
Champ Henry Cejudo vs. Dominick Cruz – for bantamweight title
Champ Amanda Nunes vs. Felicia Spencer – for women’s featherweight title
Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Calvin Kattar vs. Jeremy Stephens
Donald Cerrone vs. Anthony Pettis
Yorgan De Castro vs. Greg Hardy
Aleksei Oleinik vs. Fabricio Werdum
Carla Esparza vs. Michelle Waterson
Uriah Hall vs. Ronaldo Souza
Vicente Luque vs. Niko Price
Bryce Mitchell vs. Charles Rosa
(Featured Image Source: Instagram/ UFC)