Khabib Nurmagomedov's UFC 249 Fight With Tony Ferguson Not Likely To Go Ahead
It looks like travel restrictions are gonna stop the dream fight finally taking place.
After much speculation over the course of several weeks, it appears that the highly-anticipated UFC Lightweight title fight between Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov will not take place.
Nurmagomedov took to Instagram Live to on Monday explaining that he is currently unable to leave his native Dagestan due to increasing restrictions on travel, leaving the UFC 249 main event unlikely to go ahead as planned.
In a statement transcribed by Russia Today, Khabib explained: "We were training in the AKA [American Kickboxing Academy] without any information regarding the fight, where and how is it going to happen. 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 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 borders. And no one will be able to leave or fly in, with an exception for 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."
The UFC Lightweight Champion also revealed that the event may go on without him, as UFC president Dana White scrambles to keep the card alive.
If the fight between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson doesn't take place it will mark the fifth time that a bout between the pair has fallen through.