K. Nurmgaomedov (left) and T. Ferguson (right) face each other in the UFC 249, in April. Photo: Montage SL/MMA Press
The Ultimate canceled the next three events due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but the franchise president guarantees that the completion of the UFC 249, with the long-awaited fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov x Tony Ferguson, on April 18th, will happen. The director guaranteed that the attraction will be held with or without an audience or even outside the USA.
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In an interview with ESPN in the USA, the UFC boss assured that, depending on the event, the fifth cancellation of the duel between Khabib x Ferguson will not happen.
“We have postponed the next three events, but Khabib Nurmagomedov x Tony Ferguson, on April 18th, is still standing and will happen. We will follow the guidelines of not having more than ten people in the same environment, and we hope that everything will return to normal by then. This fight will happen. No audience, anyway. It may not even be held in the USA. But it will happen.”, stated Dana White.
Khabib vs Ferguson
the fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov x Tony Ferguson is one of the most anticipated fights of 2020. The lightweights have already been scheduled to face each other in the Octagon on four occasions before the UFC 249, but all were canceled due to health or injury reasons – twice for each of the fighters.
Two of the cancellations were on the eve of title fights. At UFC 209 in March 2017, they would face each other for the interim lightweight title. But Khabib ate tiramisu the week of the show, felt unwell and had to be hospitalized.
At UFC 223, in April 2018, it was Ferguson's turn to be banned on the eve of the fight. The American went to a TV station to give an interview. He tripped over a camera cable and suffered a serious knee injury, leaving him out of the attraction.
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