Khabib Nurmagomedov Stuck in Russia! Who Will Face Tony Ferguson at UFC 249?

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov could miss the main event of UFC 249 against Tony Ferguson on April 18th.

Khabib Nurmagomedov made an Instagram Live recently and told his fans that he was stuck in Russia because they recently put in place a cross-border travel ban as a result of COVID-19.

“We were training in the AKA without any information regarding the fight, where and how is it going to happen,” Khabib said according to RT Sport‘s translation.

“Then the UFC told us that the fight 100% isn’t happening in the States. And they said that 99% that it will happen in Emirates, Abu Dhabi,” Khabib continued.

“After talking to the UFC we decided to fly over to the Emirates a month before the fight. I don’t remember the exact date, it was 19th or 20th, I’ll have to check,” he said. “But when we landed in Emirates we learned that they are going to close borders. And no one will be able to leave or fly in, with exception for residents,” Khabib explained.

“So we had to fly back to Russia. Currently, I am in Dagestan and I am training and preparing every day. Although I don’t know what am I preparing for. Because after we came to Russia we also learned that the borders are going to be locked. Same like in the States, same like in Europe, Emirates, everywhere. The whole world is in quarantine right now,” Khabib concluded.

The coronavirus outbreak has forced most sports events to be canceled but UFC president Dana White has said on numerous occasions that UFC 249 will go on as scheduled on April 18th at a venue to be determined later.