At this point, it’s practically comical to expect Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson to ever fight in a UFC bout.
The two had been slated to fight four times since 2015 and saw all four of those meetings canceled. The fifth time was supposed to be the charm with Khabib and Ferguson set to headline UFC 249 on April 18.
But then a global pandemic happened … and is still happening. So, now the Khabib-Ferguson fight is likely off for a fifth time.
In an Instagram Live video on Monday, Khabib told fans that travel restrictions would prevent him from leaving Russia in order to make the fight — likely in the United Arab Emirates.
As countries look to limit the spread of the coronavirus, Russia shut down its borders, meaning that Khabib couldn’t leave. Still, that didn’t stop UFC fans from speculating that Khabib — who left the UAE for Russia in March — was just once again hoping to avoid a fight against Ferguson.
I find it hard to believe Khabib couldn’t get out of Russia if he really wanted to. I’ve experienced Russia many times.
Rules don’t apply to people like him over there.
Something off.— Peter Queally (@peterqueally) March 30, 2020
Why would you travel back to Russia, 2 days after they announced they would be going on a country wide lockdown? When your camp (AKA) is in the US in the first place if the fight was still going down? Khabib pulled out. #ChangeMyMind #UFC249 https://t.co/VB7mwUUwdM
— #1 (@TheIanMMA) March 30, 2020
Oleg Taktarov opinion:
"Khabib can leave Russia on a private plane. Any businessman can help with this. Therefore, private aviation is a completely different story. Khabib has a lot of fans and support among businessmen, and he can ask Putin to let him out of Russia for a while" pic.twitter.com/qwoDlY6RAU
— Yaroslav Stepanov (@wonders4341) March 30, 2020
Woke up and saw Khabib is stuck in Russia and can’t make it to #UFC249 pic.twitter.com/911w4JzUHy
— Live With Donny Jones (@sugchar) March 30, 2020
Me to the Kremlin after finding out they won’t let Khabib out of Russia to fight Tony 💔 https://t.co/2g8ruxPxHH
— Darrel J (@DarrelJ19) March 30, 2020
Khabib ain't some normal guy. Isn't this why they spend so much time cozying up to these dictators? Get him on a jet Putin cronies. We've got fights to do. https://t.co/pbMw1Cj6Gu
— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) March 30, 2020
If Putin loves Khabib, he will let him get to wherever he needs to go.
Love Khabib, Putin… love Khabib. #UFC249
— 😡 Cranky MMA Fan 😡 (@crankymmafan) March 30, 2020
Who the hell is going to tell Khabib to stay in Russia? He is friends with freaking Putin and Kadyrov #UFC249
— 420MMA (@420MMApicks) March 30, 2020
I find it hard to believe that Khabib can’t ask Putin to let him travel to the location of the fight. Laws in Russia apply to regular citizens. Khabib is connected to a lot of people higher up in Russia. I feel like there is another hidden element. @danawhite MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
— Draft Location (@DraftLocation) March 30, 2020
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