Top executives with Disney and ESPN have forced the UFC to cancel UFC 249.
ESPN’s Brett Okamoto confirmed the decision on Twitter, saying all events are “postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19.”
BREAKING: UFC 249 has been canceled. All UFC events postponed indefinitely, due to COVID-19. Dana White says he was ready to promote the event but things were taken out of his control. Much, much more on this to come.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) April 9, 2020
Clip from an interview with @danawhite moments ago. Still much more to come. https://t.co/YKp87fyiVS
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) April 9, 2020
The promotion had made plans to move ahead, placing tight restrictions on access and fighters to keep them healthy during the widespread pandemic.
However, that has all changed with Disney and ESPN executives forcing White’s hand.
UFC 249, which was supposed to happen April 18, has been canceled.
Dana White confirms to @bokamotoESPN that he was asked to “stand down” by top Disney/ESPN executives and so he is doing so.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 9, 2020
UFC officials provided a statement shortly after the report.
“While the organization was fully prepared to proceed with UFC 249, ESPN has requested the postponement of the event and subsequent bouts until further notice in light of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the statement read. “UFC looks forward to resuming the full live events schedule as soon as possible.”
A statement on #UFC249: pic.twitter.com/BkfXLhSbbq
— UFC (@ufc) April 9, 2020
The card was set to feature Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje for the interim UFC lightweight title.
UFC 249: Ferguson Vs. Gaethje Official Trailer
Share: