Dana White: UFC 249 Will Be ‘Closed Event’

UFC president Dana White promises that Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson will collide as scheduled on April 18 for the lightweight title.

White, during an Instagram Live session, stated that he has the location determined, but was not ready to reveal it just yet. He did add that there would be no fans in attendance for the bout.

“I do,” he said. “I’m not ready to tell you yet. I know lots of things. There’s not going to be any fans there. It’s going to be a closed event.”

Nurmagomedov and Ferguson would be the first event since a fight-night card held in Brazil earlier this month. The UFC scrapped plans for all events since, but has vowed to return for UFC 249 next month.

The long-running feud between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson has been delayed numerous times due to injuries and other issues. The fact that a world-wide pandemic came up during the build to the bout just seems appropriate.

Nurmagomedov improved to 28-0 overall and a perfect 12-0 in the UFC with wins over Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier recently. Ferguson, who is 25-3 in his career and 15-1 inside the Octagon, previously held the interim lightweight belt.