This is how Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Tony Ferguson might be saved
While sports events across the globe are being cancelled, a new plan on how to save UFC 249: Khabib vs Ferguson has now been suggested.
UFC president Dana White announced earlier this week that the next three UFC events would be cancelled. This is due to government bans on public gatherings due to the deadly Covid-19 virus. The cancelled events are UFC London (which featured a welterweight main event between Tyron Woodley and Leon Edwards), UFC Columbus (headlined by heavyweights Francis Ngannou and Jair Rozenstruik) and lastly UFC Portland (which had heavyweights Alistair Overeem and Walt Harris in the main event). However, UFC 249, in which lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov faces former interim champ Tony Ferguson, is supposedly still meant to take place.
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“This fight is going to happen,” White told Sports Center. “No crowd – whatever it takes. It probably won’t even be in the United States, but this fight is going to happen.”
The bout between these two lightweights has been cancelled four times previously for a variety of unexpected and unlucky circumstances. Fans have jokingly said that the match up is “cursed”, though those jokes seem less funny as sports events are being cancelled. This has begged the question: Where will UFC 249: Khabib vs Ferguson take place?
The answer may lie in the Middle East.
“[That’s up to] Dana White”
According to Nurmagomedov’s father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, there are powers in the United Arab Emirates that are willing to put the fight together in either Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
“Most likely it will be Dubai,” Abdulmanap told RBC Sports about UFC 249 (via MMA Fighting). “Firstly, it’s easier to fight diseases because of the heat. And I think the Emirates will pay for the UFC fight faster and easier.
“Abu Dhabi may well be, but then, [that’s up to] Dana White. I can’t approve, but there are more chances there.”
Nurmagomedov last fought in Abu Dhabi where he defended his title against Dustin Poirier at UFC 242.
