Well, the MMA Gods continue to play with Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson.
For the fifth time, the two have been scrapped from plans, with Nurmagomedov confirming he is stranded in Russia.
Nurmagomedov, the unbeaten UFC lightweight champion, was scheduled to defend his title against Tony Ferguson in April at UFC 249. Of course, issues with the event taking place have come up due to the wide-spread fear of COVID-19.
“We were training at (American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California) without any information regarding the fight – where and how is it going to happen,” Nurmagomedov said. “Then the UFC told us that the fight 100 percent isn’t happening in the States. And they said that 99 percent that it will happen in Emirates – Abu Dhabi.”
From there, Nurmagomedov explained that he prepared to head to Emirates but was told they were “going to close borders” and he would be unable to get anyone else in or back out.
“We had to fly back to Russia,” he added. “I am in Dagestan and I am training and preparing every day.”
With the fight date off for now, we are looking at several months before Nurmagomedov will compete again due to Ramadan.
Ferguson posted a message late Sunday night:
April 18 Is Getting Close @TeamKhabib & You’re Hiding In Russia. Travel Bans Will Not Prevent Me From Whoopin’ That Ass. Don’t Use It As An Excuse To Back Out. You Have Been Sent Many Locations, Send Us 1. Still My Bitch #DefendorVacate MF ⚾️ -CSO- ????? #ufc249 @ufc @danawhite pic.twitter.com/TVQH4mnG2e
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) March 30, 2020