The card will go on: 11 fights have been announced for UFC 249.
A week ago many believed the idea of having the UFC 249 card was insanity, all but wishful thinking. Here we are on April 6, twelve days out from the event, and we have a full eleven fight card set to take place. Sure, no one has a clue as to where, but it’s set to take place.
THE WHOLE CARD 🤯
See you on ESPN+ PPV. #UFC249 pic.twitter.com/J8jPBENMrs
— UFC (@ufc) April 7, 2020
The UFC took to twitter Monday, tweeting out the entire UFC 249 card which includes a handful of fights that were already set to take place at this event. Those include the return of Rose Namajunas and the featherweight heavy hitters Calvin Kattar & Jeremy Stephens.
As we all know, UFC 249 was originally set for Brooklyn New York. Due to the pandemic that is COVID-19 this location was called off, but Dana White was set on putting on a show. Other major sports leagues such as the NHL, NBA and even other major MMA promotions such as Bellator have called a halt to hosting events for the foreseeable future.
Arguably the most interesting twist in the craziness surrounding UFC 249 is Justin Geathje’s last minute call up for an interim lightweight title. UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was set to fight Tony Ferguson for the 5th time (the two have never stepped in the cage together). While finishing his training camp at AKA, Nurmagomedov was told that the fight would take place in a different location. Now trapped in Russia, due to restrictions on leaving the country, Khabib cannot compete. Ironically it looks as though rumors are swirling that this fight may take place on “the west coast” in USA, exactly where Khabib was a few weeks ago.
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… https://t.co/ZLwFsdQSDQ
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) April 1, 2020
It may seem as though this fight is cursed. One can hope that we one day get to see Ferguson and Khabib paired up in the octagon together but that won’t be at UFC 249. Instead we see Justin Geathje on a three-fight win streak, all three by way of knockout. Ferguson is on a twelve-fight winning streak, and has previously been an interim champion (def. Kevin Lee), but the belt was never unified and eventually stripped.
We also see what could and should be a heavyweight title eliminator between Francis Ngnnou and undefeated Jairzinho Rozenstruik (4-0 in UFC). Two of the scariest, hardest hitting humans on the planet fighting for a chance at champion Stipe Miocic. Also in the heavyweight division is the always outspoken Greg Hardy against newcomer Yorgan De Castro, who has tasted UFC victory since his Contender Series debut.
In a time full of uncertainty and fear, we must all remember we are in this together. Is this card controversial? Yes, but Dana White is no stranger to walking the line. UFC 249 is a go.
