#BREAKING: Dana White and Vladimir Putin have reached an agreement on travel arrangements for UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov to come to the United States. He will fight Tony Ferguson. It’s happening folks. #UFC249 will go on as scheduled April 18.
— Ariel Helwani (@arieIheIvani) April 5, 2020
Absolutely NOT true!!! The card is happening but @TeamKhabib is out. I will announce the entire card tomorrow.
— Dana White (@danawhite) April 6, 2020
Meanwhile, the real Helwani reported the same day that the UFC are close to finalizing a location for the event, which has been hit hard by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
It's looking like #UFC249 will take place on the west coast of the United States on April 18, sources tell @arielhelwani.
As previously reported, Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje would headline the card, however, that fight isn't signed yet. https://t.co/WvwDHSnMKw
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 6, 2020
According to ESPN, UFC 249 will now be held on the US West Coast, potentially on tribal lands which are not subject to state athletic commission regulations.
Lightweight champ Khabib is likely to be replaced in the main event by 155lbs contender Justin Gaethje, who shares the same manager as the Russian in Ali Abdelaziz.
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