For the fifth time, Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson is off.
Nurmagomedov, the UFC lightweight champion, won’t defend his title in the highly anticipated bout with Ferguson at UFC 249, which is supposed to take place on April 18 in a location yet to be determined.
On Wednesday, Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC) announced on Instagram that he won’t be competing since he’s stuck in Russia during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Staying home in quarantine and reading the reaction of people to the situation around my fight, it turns out that the whole world should be in quarantine,” Nurmagomedov wrote.
“Governments of all countries, famous people around the world urge people to follow all safety requirements in order to limit the spread of the disease, to save people, and (I am) the only one relieved of all obligations and must demonstrate free will and train flying around the world, for the sake of fight? I understand everything, and I’m definitely upset more than you to cancel the fight, probably like all others, I had many plans after the fight, but I can’t control it all.”
Nurmagomedov’s withdrawal comes as no surprise as the UFC has been scrambling for weeks to keep his title fight with Ferguson – and the pay-per-view as a whole – alive while the rest of the sports world is shut down.
Nurmagomedov, who is in Dagestan, was faced with travel restrictions as the Russian government banned travel to help contain the spread of COVID-19.
UFC 249 originally was scheduled to take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., but due to public gathering restrictions and closing of all non-essential businesses by the state government, the UFC was forced to move the event. Since then, nearly 80 percent of the country is under some form of lockdown as COVID-19 has worsened. The UFC was looking into taking the event outside of the country or potentially Native American reservations.
It’s uncertain if the UFC will try to continue to keep UFC 249 for April 18 now that Nurmagomedov is unable to compete. UFC president Dana White has been defiant that the show must go on.
Many fighters offered to step in on short notice when it was first announced that Nurmagomedov was likely out of the fight.
Below is Nurmagomedov’s full post:
Staying home in quarantine and reading the reaction of people to the situation around my fight, it turns out that the whole world should be in quarantine, governments of all countries, famous people around the world urge people to follow all safety requirements in order to limit the spread of the disease, to save people, and Khabib is the only one relieved of all obligations and must demonstrate free will and train flying around the world, for the sake of fight? – I understand everything and I’m definitely upset more than you to cancel the fight, probably like all others, I had many plans after the fight, but I can’t control it all.
The greatest countries and the largest companies of our time are shocked by what is happening, every day the situation changes unpredictably.
But Khabib still has to fight, is that what you saying? –
Take care of yourself and put yourself in my shoes.
Khabib Nurmagomedov confirms he's out of UFC 249: 'I can’t control it all'