UFC 249, April 18, 2020: Pandemic brings halt to fight
A few months ago, the idea that it would take something like a worldwide pandemic to stop Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson would have seemed like a snappy one-liner, but here we are.
The stars finally seemed to align this time. Nurmagomedov returned from his suspension due to a post-fight brawl with McGregor’s corner and defeated Dustin Poirier at UFC 242. Ferguson continued his string of exciting bouts with “Fight of the Night” performances in wins over Anthony Pettis and Donald Cerrone, bringing his winning streak to 12.
Then came the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, which has all but shut down the sports world. New York, which was set to host UFC 249, banned public gatherings, as it tries to respond to the worst outbreak of the virus in the U.S. and perhaps the world. The UFC, whose parent company Endeavor is under major debt-service pressure, continues to try to find ways to hold the event, but the options become increasingly limited with each day.
On Wednesday, Nurmagomedov formally pulled out of the bout, citing the basic health and safety concerns used by every sports organization on the planet except for his promotion.
“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 quarantinem,” Khabib said. “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.”
As of now, the show is still on, and the UFC will attempt to find Ferguson another opponent.
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