UFC 249 Update - Main Event In Jeopardy
UFC 249 Update - Main Event In Jeopardy
Even though UFC President Dana White is furiously fighting to keep UFC 249 going in some form, it appears as though Khabib vs. Ferguson might be in jeopardy once more. This is already the fifth time that these two have been scheduled to fight, and this one may end up having to wait until around August. Khabib Nurmagomedov is a Muslim by religion, and he celebrates Ramadan which would make him unable to fight once the holiday begins the week after the pay-per-view is scheduled.
Khabib had an interview with ESPN Monday discussing UFC 249. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6z43vymxz8 ) “Right now, if they give me location and I can come out from Russia and I can go to any country,” Nurmagomedov explained. “U.S., Abu Dhabi, doesn’t matter. I’m going to fight, 100 percent. Just give me location. Every day, I send Dana White a message. Hey, where’s my location. This is not my mistake.” Granted his English isn't the best, but it appears as though he's on board for the fight if the UFC can provide the details to him in a timely manner.
On the other side of things, his challenger Tony Ferguson appears to be 100% prepared for this fight to happen. He even went as far to say in an interview with ESPN that he believed that Khabib was avoiding fighting him and that he should be stripped of his title if the fight doesn't take place. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?4&v=1EgjKpg009c ) It does appear as though if Nurmagomedov doesn't compete in UFC 249, that Justin Gaethje will take replace him in the main event. One has to wonder if the event will even take place without its headline event. Many online books have either pulled the fight from their available bets, or they are offering Ferguson vs. Gaethje. Be sure to stay tuned in the next week or so, as we will surely have an answer to whether we will finally see the long-awaited bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson or if it will be scratched for an amazing fifth time.