The much-anticipated UFC lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson looks set to fall by the wayside for a fifth time.
UFC lightweight champion Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC) appeared on Instagram Live Monday to explain his situation, as he revealed that he is currently stuck in his native Dagestan after plans to travel to the United Arab Emirates for UFC 249 hit travel restriction issues. Now the Russian is back home under a national travel lockdown, and revealed that the UFC was considering moving ahead with the event without him.
“We were training at AKA without any information regarding the fight, where and how is it going to happen,” he said (via RT Sport translation). “Then the UFC told us that the fight 100% isn’t happening in the States. And they said that 99% that it will happen in (United Arab) Emirates, Abu Dhabi.
“After talking to the UFC we decided to fly over to the Emirates a month before the fight. I don’t remember the exact date, it was 19th or 20th, I’ll have to check. But when we landed in Emirates we learned that they are going to close (the) borders and no one will be able to leave or fly in, with (the) exception of residents.
“So, we had to fly back to Russia. Currently, I am in Dagestan and I am training and preparing every day, although I don’t know what am I preparing for. Because after we came to Russia we also learned that the borders are going to be locked. Same like in the States, same like in Europe, Emirates, everywhere. The whole world is in quarantine right now.”
Now it appears Nurmagomedov is locked down in his native Russia, his participation on April 18 looks almost impossible in the current climate, with the various travel bans around the world significantly restricting movement during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nurmagomedov also suggested that UFC 249 may still go ahead without him, as he revealed he had heard the UFC were now considering alternative opponent options for Ferguson (25-3 MMA, 15-1 UFC).
“So now I am hearing that they are looking to organize it with or without me. OK, go ahead,” he said. “Everyone should follow the laws. I am not against it, I know that fighters need to feed their families and pay their bills. I know how hard it is for the fighter. Unless they fight they aren’t getting any money.
“I am even hearing that they are looking for an opponent for Tony, because he is in the States and I am here in Russia. But I am here not on my own will. The UFC told me that this fight 100% isn’t happening in the USA, and even if it’s not happening in the Emirates it will happen on this side of Atlantic. We discussed everything with the UFC. By that time I already spent five weeks of hard training at AKA.
“Now I don’t really know what’s going on. It’s really hard to train and cut your weight when the whole world is locked down and you don’t know what you are preparing for. But it’s not the first time I face obstacles in my career.”
UFC 249 was originally scheduled to take place at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, on Apr. 18, but those plans changed following the impact of the global coronavirus pandemic. However, UFC president Dana White has remained confident that the event would go ahead, telling Yahoo Sports’ Kevin Iole that the show would take as a behind-closed-doors show in an alternative location.
Khabib Nurmagomedov says he's under lockdown in Russia, UFC 249 may go ahead 'with or without me'
