UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov’s manager and friend Ali Abdelaziz says that “we will have all the answers” soon regarding UFC 249.
Khabib Nurmagomedov is scheduled to defend his undisputed UFC lightweight title against Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson at UFC 249 on April 18. The event, which was initially scheduled to take place in Brooklyn, New York, has been in jeopardy of being cancelled ever since the state of New York announced a ban on all “large gatherings” amid growing concerns over COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.
UFC president Dana White assured the fans that UFC 249 would go ahead on April 18 as previously planned, although it would have to be moved to a new location. The new location for UFC 249 still remains to be officially announced at this time, albeit Dana White confirmed that he currently has “four or five” potential locations for the event.
More misfortune struck the fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson, after it was announced that Nurmagomedov might be unable to leave his country due to newly imposed travel restrictions.
There was a glimmer of hope for the fight to still happen after Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency announced that “There are no restrictions for business aviation on departure from Russia.”
Unfortunately for the fans, it appears that Nurmagomedov is not interested in fighting at UFC 249, amid the outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus. He released the following statement on his Instagram earlier this week:
“Staying home in quarantine and reading the reaction of people to the situation around my fight, it turns out that the whole world should be in quarantine, governments of all countries, famous people around the world urge people to follow all safety requirements in order to limit the spread of the disease, to save people, and Khabib is the only one relieved of all obligations and must demonstrate free will and train flying around the world, for the sake of fight? – I understand everything and I’m definitely upset more than you to cancel the fight, probably like all others, I had many plans after the fight, but I can’t control it all.
The greatest countries and the largest companies of our time are shocked by what is happening, every day the situation changes unpredictably. But Khabib still has to fight, is that what you saying? – Take care of yourself and put yourself in my shoes.” he wrote.
Understandably, some fans are very upset by this turn of event. Nurmagomedov has been criticized for seemingly choosing to not fight at this fight. His opponent, Tony Ferguson even called for the champion to be stripped off of his UFC lightweight title.
Nurmagomedov’s manager and friend Ali Abdelaziz has now weighed in on the situation regarding UFC 249, stating on his Twitter that “soon we will have all the answers”:
“Undisputed undefeated pound for pound king. All dogs can bark and everyone wants to make smoke. Soon we will have all the answers you want to know. Bend the knees”
Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson have been booked to fight each other 4-times in the past, with the fight falling through each time. Both men have had to pull out from the fight twice, due to different health reasons. This has lead some fans to dub the fight as being “cursed”.
At this time, there is no official statement from the UFC regarding the situation and status of UFC 249.
This article first appeared on CLOSEDGUARDMEDIA.com on 2nd April, 2020.
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