Tag: Khabib Nurmagomedov

This Coachella-inspired UFC poster is so, so good

Brilliant.

With the UFC shutting down indefinitely on Thursday, we are now guaranteed to be without major MMA action for who knows how long. It could be a month if Dana White gets his way, but it’s likely to be longer than that if the global coronavirus pandemic doesn’t tail off soon.

And so, what do we do without fights? We dream. You know what would be nice? If, when the UFC comes back, the promotion satisfies starved MMA fans with an epic weekend. [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag], [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag], [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag], [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag], [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag], [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag], [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag], [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag], [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] … just book them all for a three-day weekend of action Coachella style.

Speaking of Coachella, the iconic music festival was supposed to kick off this weekend. On Friday, a Twitter user who goes by Ariel Helvani (with a “v”) blessed us with this Coachella-inspired UFC poster:

Just look at all those amazing matchups. But also, I can’t stop laughing at the fine print! In addition to fights, there’s also:

  • Leon Edwards Sadly Watching Covington vs. Masvidal
  • African American History With Mike Perry
  • B.J. Penn vs. Drunken Hawaiian Off The Street
  • The Evolution of Dance Presented By Holly Holm and Mini Blessed Holloway
  • Kevin Lee Fitting Into All This
  • Tony Ferguson Fighting Again Because He’s The Type Of Guy To
  • The Joe Rogan Experience Live With Nate Diaz & A Lot Of Marijuana

[protected-iframe id=”f2607e4b89a78d30ff974626e79aa1d4-58289362-58194562″ info=”https://giphy.com/embed/1PgPvWLfXGkCY” width=”480″ height=”304″ frameborder=”0″ class=”giphy-embed” allowfullscreen=””]

Well done, Mr. Helvani.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

[opinary poll=”do-you-believe-dana-white-about-fight-is-V0WR58″ customer=”mmajunkie”]

Twitter Mailbag: On Tony Ferguson deserving better from UFC, future must-see fights, and more

Why did’t the UFC call Tony Ferguson about UFC 249 being canceled before going public? That and more in this week’s Twitter Mailbag.

Questions on your mind about recent happenings in MMA or the sport in general? MMA Junkie’s Twitter Mailbag is here to answer – and this week it’s @MikeBohnMMA:

  • What do we think of the UFC not informing [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] of UFC 249 being off before going public?
  • How come more big-name fighters don’t aim to fight three times a year?
  • How will MMA journalists stay busy during this MMA-less period?

Those are answered in the video above. You can also read on a few more topics below.

****

Which three fights do you want to see most when UFC events resume?

The obvious No. 1 is [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag]. I don’t care if this fight has failed to materialize five times – with a damn global pandemic of all things leading to the fifth scratch. The world needs to see it, and it’s worth booking again. Sadly, it’s not going to happen any time in the near future. Nurmagomedov will begin observing Ramadan later this month, and that essentially rules him out from fighting until mid-August at the earliest. It’ll have been 14 months between fights for Ferguson by that point, but again, it’s worth the wait, because we have to see it.

My No. 2 pick would go to [autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag], although the back-and-forth between the bitter rivals has gotten somewhat exhausting in recent weeks as they played a game of “He Said, She Said” about a short-notice fight at UFC 249. That ultimately proved to be a pointless practice. Still, I want to see that fight. The disdain between the two sides has been building, and while it would’ve been better timing when Woodley was champion, it’s still be one of the best fights that can be made at welterweight.

Last but not least, my No. 3 pick goes to [autotag]Alistair Overeem[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Walt Harris[/autotag]. The UFC has booked this heavyweight headliner three times since December, but each time it has fallen apart. It’s not for a belt, or even a title eliminator, but more than anything I just want to see Harris back in there after the personal hardship he’s endured over the shocking murder of his stepdaughter. He seemed to be in a good place when I spoke with him last month in Las Vegas, but said it was helpful to have that goal of a fight as he continues to grieve the tragic loss. Hopefully he can get that opportunity back soon.

Would you be interested in flying to ‘Fight Island’ to cover some events?

I think it’s too soon to answer that, honestly. Mainly because we have no idea where Dana White’s private island is. Is it in North America, Europe, Asia, or elsewhere? Even if it was a manageable distance from me here in Toronto, I’m not too keen on the concept of traveling through an airport right now, and who knows where things will stand in a month, when White hopes to have his island up and running for events.

If this entire coronavirus situation takes a turn for worse, it’s hard to predict what the world will look like in four or five weeks. If the situation subsides for the better, then a realistic discussion can be had. But, assuming everything is safe, would I be interested in traveling to an island to cover MMA fights? Of course. That sounds dope.

Will GSP ever leave retirement and fight again?

I’m leaning pretty strongly toward no. I didn’t think [autotag]Georges St-Pierre[/autotag] would return the first time after stepping away in November 2013, so he’s proven me wrong once before. But we’re approaching three years since his one-night comeback against Michael Bisping to win the UFC middleweight title, and St-Pierre is set to turn 39 next month.

Anyone who associates with St-Pierre will say he’s still as sharp as ever in the gym and maintains a disciplined lifestyle. He definitely remains capable of competing and could probably beat the majority of the top fighters at welterweight – and even middleweight – right now. What’s the point, though? St-Pierre’s legacy is pristine and not worth tainting. UFC has also not been willing to give him the matchups he wants most (which contributed to his retirement), and that likely hasn’t changed.

To ask a question of your own, follow @MMAjunkie on Twitter and let us know.

Dana White caves to intense pressure, calls off UFC 249

Dana White backed off his efforts to stage UFC 249 on Native American land April 18 as a result of pressure TV executives and politicians.

Any boxing promoters thinking about emulating Dana White, who has been determined to keep his sport going during the coronavirus pandemic, should forget it.

The head of UFC gave up on his efforts to stage UFC 249 on April 18 on Native American land in central California under pressure from broadcast partner ESPN and parent company Disney, which obviously had no interest in televising the event. And future UFC events reportedly have been postponed indefinitely.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed concerns over the event to Disney, according to The New York Times. And officials at Disney contacted White.

ESPN issued a statement that read: “ESPN has been in constant contact with the U.F.C. regarding U.F.C. 249. Nobody wants to see sports return more than we do, but we didn’t feel this was the right time for a variety of reasons. ESPN expressed its concerns to the U.F.C. and they understood.”

White’s plan was to stage the card, originally scheduled for Brooklyn, without spectators.The main event was scheduled to be Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje after Khabib Nurmagomedov pulled out.

White told ESPN only days ago that he is “going to continue to pump fights out” in spite of widespread lock downs. He ultimately planned to showcase his product on an undisclosed private island, an idea that many people found fascinating.

And then the counter pressure proved to be too much.

“The powers that be there asked me to stand down and not do this event next Saturday,” White said.

He went on: “These are people that I am partners with, people whom I have a lot of respect with, and I’m going to do it, I’m going to say yes [to requests to postpone the April 18 card].”

ESPN reported that all other scheduled UFC events also have been postponed.

 

 

 

Conor McGregor takes shot at Khabib Nurmagomedov in declaring himself ‘the greatest’

Conor McGregor ranks his left hand as the most dangerous weapon in MMA.

Although the 2020 version of [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] has shown a different side of the former two-division UFC champion, make no mistake: “The Notorious” is still as cocky as ever.

McGregor (22-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC), who hasn’t competed since a quick TKO of Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 in January, is living in quarantine life just like most of the world. He’s been a major proponent of coronavirus awareness in his native Ireland and globally, and the time at home has given him some time to think, as well.

McGregor wondered out lout on social media Wednesday where his devastating left hand, which has produced so many career knockouts, ranks among the most dangerous weapons in MMA history. He ranked it at the top, putting himself above the grappling of his rival and current UFC lightweight champ [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag], as well as other notable figures (via Twitter).

Conors left hand. Anderson’s front kick. Rondas armbar. Hendo’s bomb. Crocops high kick. Jon’s side kick to the knees over and over again and actually the only thing at this stage?Khabibs little mermaid leg wrap thing he does. What a sport! Who’s the greatest, you already know.

McGregor later deleted his tweet.

Naturally, McGregor’s comment was met with some venomous responses. Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC), of course, used his “little mermaid leg wrap thing” en route to beating McGregor by fourth-round submission at UFC 229 in October 2018.

[lawrence-related id=504444]

There’s no denying McGregor’s left hand is a powerful tool, though. It helped lead him to flawless title-fight wins over Jose Aldo and Eddie Alvarez to claim featherweight and lightweight gold.

If McGregor is to ever wear a UFC title again, it’s a near-certainty his signature strike will play a large role in making it happen.

[vertical-gallery id=390041]

Dana White’s decision to ‘pump out fights’: admirable or madness?

Is Dana White’s determination to stage UFC cards during the coronavirus pandemic admirable or in bad taste?”

Is Dana White’s determination to stage UFC cards during the coronavirus pandemic admirable or, as boxing promoter Eddie Hearn suggested, is he “mad?”

White, the head of UFC, said he has secured a site for UFC 249 on April 18 in the United States – at a Native American reserve, according to at least one report — in spite of widespread lock downs and ultimately plans to showcase his product on an undisclosed private island.

UFC 249, originally scheduled for Brooklyn, almost certainly would take place without spectators but would be televised on ESPN. Tony Ferguson would face Justin Gaethje in the main event after Khabib Nurmagomedov pulled out.

White told ESPN that he is “going to continue to pump fights out.”

“I talked to the president and the vice president of the United States about this,” White said in an interview on ESPN. “They’re taking this very serious. They’re saying, ‘Be cautious, be careful, but live your life and stop panicking.’ Everybody is panicking, and instead of panicking, we’re actually getting out there and working with doctors and health officials and the government to figure out how we can keep the sport safe and how we can continue to put on events.”

White added: “We’re always looking out for the health and safety of our fans, our athletes, whatever it might be. This thing going on, we’re going to do the same thing. We’re going to make sure that two healthy athletes are competing, and these guys are good to go.”

As ESPN reported, the Association of Ringside Physicians has called for a suspension of all combat sports events.

A ARP statement read: “Any combat sport taking place during this global pandemic places the athletes, officials, and anyone else involved in the event under unnecessary risk of infection and transmission of COVID-19. In addition, combat sports athletes often require medical attention after a bout, and we do not wish to see any additional strain on an already overwhelmed medical system.”

White would have to find medical personal willing to buck the ARP recommendation and, because it’s unlikely any commission would oversee his cards, he would have to come up with his own judges and referees.

Hearn, whose cards are showcased on rival DAZN, said White’s plans are in “bad taste,” according to Express Sport.

“It’s unbelievable,” Hearn said. “I’d like to think that in boxing, there’s no-one more roll your sleeves up and get on with it than me. But even I wouldn’t consider staging an event right now. I’m not even thinking about options, not even on the radar.

“This is stubbornness. These are many of the things that make him successful but at some point you have to sit back and say ‘white flag’. I’m quite surprised ESPN are going ahead with this, obviously they want ratings and money.

“Half of me admires him for cracking on, but the other half says ‘come on don’t be mad.'”

Potentially losing Khabib vs. Ferguson forever just isn’t worth the risk | Opinion

Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje is a nice consolation UFC 249 headliner, but it’s not the same.

We’re supposed to be less than two weeks away from arguably the biggest fight in UFC history, but somehow the fifth time wasn’t the charm.

[autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] and [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] will not fight once again after being booked against each other, and this time it wasn’t either fighter’s fault. The coronavirus pandemic has put the whole world on hold, yet we were grasping at the idea of the UFC still trying to make Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson happen.

Nurmagomedov flew back to Dagestan last month after California, where his training camp was based at American Kickboxing Academy, issued a stay-at-home order to help curtail the spread of COVID-19. Nurmagomedov at the time was under the impression that UFC 249 would take place in Abu Dhabi, and now he’s stuck in Russia because of a travel ban.

Ferguson’s frustration last week was understandable. But Nurmagomedov ducking him? That’s nonsense.

So now we get Ferguson vs. [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] for the interim lightweight title, which was announced Monday as the new UFC 249 headliner at a location still to be determined. It’s the best possible replacement anyone could imagine. The matchup could end up delivering more than Ferguson vs. Nurmagomedov would, but the history, the statistics, the legacy all make Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson absolutely the fight to make.

We’ve waited five years, so why couldn’t we wait a few more months?

[lawrence-related id=505126,505116,504381]

Gaethje is enjoying his best run to date. He has recently tamed his overly aggressive and brawling style, delivering three straight first-round finishes. He is a very dangerous and worthy opponent, which is precisely the problem. We couldn’t get Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson for five years, so if Gaethje beats Ferguson, we probably never will. At least not with the stakes so high.

The fight has been brewing for years, but the matchup never has been bigger, with both men on remarkable winning streaks in the UFC and no man able to stop the undefeated Nurmagomedov.

We are currently in a global pandemic, meaning fighters are not only potentially risking their health and safety, but with non-essential gym business shut down, they haven’t had the proper preparation to compete. For Gaethje, he certainly has nothing to lose and everything to gain with an opportunity like this, but Ferguson is about to risk it all.

Kudos to him and his willingness to fight, but with no location even determined for the fight yet, we might as well have waited for the dust to settle. If Ferguson pulls this off, somehow the Nurmagomedov fight just got even bigger.

We can only hope.

[opinary poll=”how-mad-will-you-be-if-khabib-and-tony-n-FJWq2N” customer=”mmajunkie”]

[vertical-gallery id=497274]

Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje official for UFC 249; location remains unknown

Justin Gaethje will step in for Khabib Nurmagomedov and fight Tony Ferguson for the interim lightweight title – assuming UFC 249 happens.

[autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] will step in for [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] and fight [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] for the interim lightweight title at UFC 249 – assuming the event happens April 18 as planned.

After champion Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC) was forced to withdraw from his anticipated title defense against Ferguson (25-3 MMA, 15-1 UFC) because of Russia’s travel ban during the coronavirus pandemic, the UFC searched for a new fight to serve as the UFC 249 main event.

Gaethje (20-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) got the call, and the UFC announced the booking Monday.

The major caveat, of course, is that UFC 249 still does not have a confirmed location. ESPN reported on Sunday that the promotion was close to securing a venue on the West Coast, but the promotion still has yet to unveil details publicly.

UFC president Dana White, who has maintained all along that UFC 249 would happen April as planned, is clearly confident, though.

[lawrence-related id=504381,504142]

Ferguson, No. 2 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie lightweight rankings, is riding a 12-fight winning streak at 155 pounds. He’s been booked to face Nurmagomedov five times – with three of those being for a belt – but each contest has failed to come to fruition for a variety of reasons.

No. 4 Gaethje will bring a three-fight winning streak – all first-round knockouts – into his first UFC title opportunity. “The Highlight” is a former WSOF champion who defended the gold five times under that promotional banner.

[opinary poll=”who-do-you-think-wins-between-tony-fergu-LwS0Tj” customer=”mmajunkie”]

Khabib Nurmagomedov claps back at Conor McGregor: ‘Inside the cage with me, he’s zero’

When Conor McGregor chirped at Khabib Nurmagomedov, the champ wasted little time reminding him what happened when they fought at UFC 229.

Conor McGregor took jabs at rival [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] online Thursday, just one day after the undefeated UFC lightweight champion announced he was out of his UFC 249 main event against Tony Ferguson.

Via Twitter, McGregor accused Nurmagomedov of running from the fight, which marked the fifth time the bout between the two fell out, saying in part “The fact of this matter is, both Tony and Khabib where engaged in a game of chicken here towards the fight bell. With Khabib chickening out first.”

Nurmagomedov wasted little time replying. Speaking to ESPN, The champ reminded McGregor that when the duo fought in the biggest event in UFC history, UFC 29, McGregor tapped out after taking a beating into the fourth round.

“What happened on Oct. 6, Oct. 6, 2018?” Nurmagomedov asked. “When we had six months training camp before the fight, you do everything that you can, and you come inside the cage, you talk lot of bad things before the fight, six months you train very hard and you come inside the cage and you tap like chicken.”

[lawrence-related id=504312,504407,504381]

McGregor went on to declare himself in fighting shape over Twitter on Thursday. Nurmagomedov questioned this, too, noting that just a few days ago, McGregor shot a video urging the Irish public to stay home and in order to defeat coronavirus.

“OK, a couple days ago, he sent message, ‘hey, people, please take care of your family, be safe, stay home, government says stay home,'” the champ said. “Couple days ago. Now he talk ‘I’m in good shape blah blah blah I’m gonna fight.’ This is fake. For me, it’s fake. I was always real. Maybe someone like, maybe someone don’t like, but, this is not my job. But I was always real. But this guy’s fake.”

The way Nurmagomedov sees it, McGregor made excuses back at UFC 229 after losing, and now he’s once again chiming in with words that don’t back his actions.

“Conor always going to be number two, always. He can never can do nothing with me. Inside the cage with me, he’s zero.”

Hear more from Nurmagomedov below (via Twitter):

[vertical-gallery id=355186]

Calling for Khabib to be stripped of his UFC title is laughable | Opinion

Tony Ferguson wants Khabib Nurmagomedov stripped of his title after the UFC 249 main event fell apart, but that’s not the right move.

The UFC has made some baffling moves during its 26 years of existence. However, stripping [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] of his lightweight title would be among the most egregious.

There’s no evidence that taking the belt away from the undefeated Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC) is in the UFC’s plans at the moment, but that’s what Tony Ferguson is lobbying for after a fight between the rivals fell apart for the fifth time at UFC 249.

Yes, technically speaking, Nurmagomedov put the final deathblow on the 2020 version of this seemingly forever-cursed matchup. “The Eagle” took to social media on Wednesday and posted an insightful statement explaining why the barriers to him competing in the middle of the global coronavirus pandemic have simply become too much to overcome.

As much as we all want to see the fight, anyone criticizing Nurmagomedov for his decision is misguided. Not everyone is willing to be as bold in the face of this crisis as UFC president Dana White, and Nurmagomedov prioritizing the health and safety of his family and himself isn’t to be questioned.

It’s not like this happened because of a lack of trying, either. Nurmagomedov did what he could. He came to the U.S. to finish his training camp when we all thought UFC 249 would be in Brooklyn, N.Y., then flew back overseas only when he was given the directive that the event was “99.9 percent” likely to take place in the Middle East.

[lawrence-related id=504312,504142]

Nurmagomedov made moves to Abu Dhabi when he thought that’s where the fight would be held, and only returned to Russia when the scope of travel bans continued to tighten around the world, and the risk became too great.

The main narrative that’s come from Ferguson (25-3 MMA, 15-1 UFC), and subsequently Conor McGregor, is that Nurmagomedov “bailed out,” “chickened out,” and is somehow scared because he could’ve competed if he really wanted to. And it’s a narrative that’s since been parroted by a section of the MMA fanbase.

Given his perceived relationship with Russian government officials, the idea of Nurmagomedov finding a workaround to the travel ban seems within the realm of possibility. But why? Assuming Nurmagomedov sorted an avenue to leave the country, he would be doing so to go where, exactly? In case everyone forgot, UFC 249 is supposed to be 16 days away, yet there’s no sign the promotion is any closer to securing a venue as it was last week or the week before.

In fact, the list of potential host locations for UFC 249 appears to be shrinking by the day. White can insist that he’s intentionally keeping his cards close to the vest because he believes the media will try to spoil any plans he makes public (a totally warped perspective we can dig into another day), but the media aren’t the only ones in the dark on this.

Not a single fighter or manager who I’ve spoken with in recent days has a clue about plans for UFC 249. The company line to athletes and their representatives is to continue preparing for fight night, but there’s no clarity on whether they’ll be fighting Stateside or internationally. Moreover, given the nature of this pandemic, there’s no guarantee the UFC could lock down a location and venue, fly fighters in on the Tuesday of fight week, only to have the circumstances change for the worse by Saturday.

That would be a stressful situation to endure for a preliminary fighter who is making his debut on a minimum contract. So how about Nurmagomedov? He has worked nearly 12 years to accrue that 28-0 record we herald so much, and now he’s supposed to risk it all by entering arguably his most dangerous fight ever on a fractured training camp with no assurances he’ll be protected from coronavirus contagion?

[lawrence-related id=503904,504149]

It’s not hard to understand why Ferguson is demanding Nurmagomedov be stripped. He wants to get his hands on this man in the worst way and has been waiting more than five years at this point. Ferguson is still in fight mode, so him empathizing with Nurmagomedov’s position is just not going to happen. The hope is these two will fight one day, and that fight is going to need promotional support. In that vein, it’s reasonable for Ferguson to continue stoking the fire of their feud, even if morally objectionable.

The odds of Ferguson’s wish coming true seem slim, though. Regardless of Nurmagomedov’s history of fight withdrawals, or the perception this situation could’ve been avoided, the 31-year-old remains a key figure for the UFC. His star power in Russia is second to none for any UFC fighter in their home country, and his global appeal is considerable, as well. Nurmagomedov is one half of the fight White seems to want more than any other in history, and that’s the rematch with McGregor. Stripping him does nothing but hurt that potential bout.

Taking Nurmagomedov’s belt away seemingly would be punishment for pulling out of this fight, and not an action based off precedent. It would be the UFC cutting off its nose to spite its face. Ultimately any talk of Nurmagomedov being stripped is likely to become a moot point, though, because UFC 249 might not happen at all. The logistical challenges this event faces remain the same whether Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson is on the card or not, so there might be a demand for Nurmagomedov to be stripped of a title that wasn’t going to be defended, anyway.

How does that make any sense? It doesn’t.

[opinary poll=”shoul-khabib-nurmagomedov-be-stripped-of-WZNHqA” customer=”mmajunkie”]

Khabib Nurmagomedov baffled by backlash over UFC 249 fallout: ‘I am not coronavirus’

Khabib Nurmagomedov doesn’t understand why he’s become the fall guy for the disaster that has become UFC 249.

[autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] doesn’t understand why he’s become the fall guy for the disaster that has become UFC 249 and his ill-fated lightweight title fight with Tony Ferguson.

Since confirming his withdrawal Wednesday, Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC) has taken the brunt of criticism from fans, as well as Ferguson (25-3 MMA, 15-1 UFC), for a fifth cancellation of the matchup between rivals. UFC 249 was supposed to take place April 18 in Brooklyn, N.Y., but the coronavirus pandemic has caused a mad scramble to find a new location for the card while keeping the same date.

The situation looks increasingly grim, leading Nurmagomedov to pull the plug while he’s on lockdown in Russia, where travel in and out of the country has been banned. The days are quickly winding down to April 18, and with the global situation worsening each day, Nurmagomedov said he received no good answers from the UFC as to what’s been going on.

“Nobody knows location, but everyone wants me to fly somewhere,” Nurmagomedov said Thursday on Instagram Live. “I don’t understand this. UFC tried to find a location (almost one month ago); they don’t find. What about me? This is my mistake? UFC don’t send us location. Where (are) we going to fight? I don’t have location; that’s why I’m not going to fight.

“Where we going to fight? Nobody talks about this. Everybody now sit home, and they try to find someone (to blame). They have to put pressure on someone because people are bored. Soccer closed, hockey closd, NFL, NBA, soccer, Olympic games, European championships – everything is closed. Now Tony vs. Khabib, this is maybe closed, too. Now they have to push someone.”

[jwplayer AgARJGT8-FLu19iir]

Nurmagomedov’s decision to withdraw from UFC 249 didn’t come on a whim, he said. He originally came to San Jose in late February to finish his training camp at American Kickboxing Academy when he thought he would be fighting in New York. But when the COVID-19 threat started to spread, he began discussing alternatives with the UFC.

According to Nurmagomedov, he was told there was a “0 percent” chance he would be fighting in the U.S., and that there was a “99 percent” chance it would happen in the Middle East. So, he traveled to that part of the world, only to run into several more roadblocks.

“We left San Jose. We landed in Dubai. We landed 8 p.m. at night,” Nurmagomedov recounted. “They say (at) 12 a.m. they close (the) gate. We tried to go in, but this is impossible. They say this is impossible. Then I say, ‘OK, whatever happens we’re going to go to Dagestan and keep training.’ After Dubai, we come to Dagestan and keep training. Right now I finish my training. Every day I’m training, and I’m waiting for location, but they don’t send me.

“All (airport gates) closed. Russian gate is closed, U.S. gate is closed – everywhere is closed. All people sit at home – government, famous people even Dana (White). Where is Dana? Everybody stay home. Everybody in quarantine. All government, all presidents, all famous people. Everybody say, ‘Please stay home’ because people die every day. Thousands of people die. No. 1 country right now, it’s U.S.”

[lawrence-related id=504312,504142]

Given all these circumstances, Nurmagomedov thinks he’s being unfairly targeted. He wanted to fight Ferguson just as badly as everyone wanted to finally see it but reiterated there is no venue or host city confirmed, and therefore he might’ve “pulled out” of an event that won’t even exist.

“My name is Khabib. I am not coronavirus,” Nurmagomedov said. “My name is not coronavirus. Dana is Dana. Tony Ferguson is Tony Ferguson. My name is Khabib, but No. 1 thing what make me crazy is people say I pull out, or I do something. I don’t understand this. I’m still training since December, I train very hard since December. I (came) to U.S. because UFC (gave) me location, New York. I come to U.S. I’m training 40 days. Then when everything (went) crazy they say, U.S. 100 percent no fight. We move to Dubai. Why? They told me 99 percent it’s going to be in Dubai.

“My last training camp I come to U.S, I train with coach (Javier Mendez) for 55 days, then we move to Abu Dhabi because fight was in Abu Dhabi. I understand. OK, if it’s not Abu Dhabi, no problem. We did this before we can do it one more time. We come, and they close gate, but this not my problem. I make no mistake. One more time I want to say I am Khabib; I am not coronavirus.”

[lawrence-related id=504148]

At this juncture there is no certainty as to what happens next. The UFC has already postponed its next three events, and it seems as though UFC 249 and a number of cards to follow are hanging by a thread, as well.

Nurmagomedov wants to fight Ferguson at the next available opportunity, though. The champ will observe Ramadan beginning later this month but said he could be free to compete in August or September, assuming the coronavirus pandemic is under control.

“I hear the UFC work on (making) show in San Francisco in August,” Nurmagomedov said. “This one is very good. Maybe in August everything is finished, but nobody knows. I hear they going to make show in middle of September in Abu Dhabi. Maybe, I don’t know. If not they can’t make show, after Ramadan is going to be August. But even right now in U.S., nobody knows when this is going to go down.”

[opinary poll=”are-you-mad-at-khabib-for-his-fight-with-V886cD” customer=”mmajunkie”]