Dana White has not given up on UFC 249’s eagerly awaited lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson going ahead on April 18th, and it seems he’s not the only one.
Khabib’s father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov has spoken out to RBC Sports in Russia to suggest that as far as they are concerned the fight is still on and that the Middle East could be a potential landing spot for the event.
“Most likely it will be Dubai,” Abdulmanap said. “Firstly, it’s easier to fight diseases because of the heat. And I think the Emirates will pay for the UFC fight faster and easier.
“Abu Dhabi may well be, but then, [that’s up to] Dana White. I can’t approve, but there are more chances there.”
For the record, at the time of writing there are reportedly 98 cases of Caronavirus in the United Arab Emerates, so it’s not completely immune to the effects of coronavirus, but it’s not something that appears to be worrying the lightweight champion.
“Khabib feels great, everything is going according to plan,” Abdulmanap said. “He is not afraid of the coronavirus, we are all mortals. What about empty stands? I think that the audience is good, but without them it is even better.”
