- Khabib Nurmagomedov has finally canceled his UFC 249 fight on April 18.
- The coronavirus crisis, which has gripped multiple countries, has seen Nurmagomedov’s native Russia in lockdown. “The world should be in quarantine,” Nurmagomedov said Wednesday.
- The UFC lightweight champion’s withdrawal from the mid-April event leaves Tony Ferguson without an opponent.
- Reacting to the news on ESPN, Ferguson accused Nurmagomedov of chickening out of the bout and said he should be stripped of his world title.
- Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has finally canceled his UFC fight on April 18 because “the whole world should be in quarantine.”
Nurmagomedov was scheduled to defend his UFC lightweight championship against the well-rounded challenger Tony Ferguson in New York, but because of the worsening coronavirus crisis there, it was moved from the city, and is now in disarray.
With it unclear whether UFC 249 could even take place in the US, Nurmagomedov recently flew from the West Coast where he had been training, back to his native Russia.
Russia is now completely locked, and Nurmagomedov would unlikely be able to leave the country and compete against Ferguson. He even told RT Sport that the UFC was looking to do its April event “with or without” him.
Now, he has told his almost 20 million followers on Instagram that he will not compete, that he is upset at not being able to defend his title against Ferguson, and said everybody should be self-isolating during a pandemic which has already infected almost one million people.
"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," Nurmagomedov said.
He then asked why he should be exempt from precautionary measures. "Khabib is the only one relieved of all obligations and must demonstrate free will and train flying around the world, for the sake of [a] fight?
"I'm definitely upset more than you to cancel 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 said.
Nurmagomedov's should be stripped of the title, his opponent said
Irate, Ferguson told ESPN that the UFC should strip Nurmagomedov of the lightweight championship as he chickened out of the bout.
"Obviously I'm very upset [but] the guy does not want this fight," Ferguson said. "He got scared. He should be stripped of his title."
Ferguson told the ESPN MMA reporter Ariel Helwani that the UFC is trying to find a new opponent for him, and that there were "a couple names" being discussed. One of whom could be Justin Gaethje, America's expert striker.
However, Ferguson challenged Nurmagomedov to take a private plane, finish his training camp, and perform at UFC 249 "for the people."
He added: "I'm more down to fight anyone, anytime, anywhere."
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