Khabib Nurmagomedov Pulls Out Of UFC 249 Amid Coronavirus Fears

UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has pulled out of UFC 249 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Russian, who was supposed to fight Tony Ferguson on April 19, confirmed on his Instagram page that he would not be fighting.

View this post on Instagram

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 urge people to follow all safety requirements in order to limit the spread of the disease, to save people, and Khabib is the only one relieved of all obligations and must demonstrate free will and train flying around the world, for the sake of fight? - I understand everything and I’m definitely upset more than you to cancel the fight, probably like all others, I had many plans after 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. - 📍 Сижу дома на карантине и читаю реакцию людей на ситуацию вокруг моего боя, получается весь мир должен сидеть на карантине, правительства всех стран и известные люди всего мира призывают людей соблюдать требования безопасности, чтоб ограничить распространение болезни ради спасения людей, а Хабиб, освобождён от всех обязательств и должен демонстрировать свободу воли и тренироваться летая по всему миру рискуя своей жизнью ради боя ? - Я все понимаю и точно не меньше вас расстроен отменой боя, наверно у меня , как и у всех других, было много планов после боя, но я не в силах контролировать все это. Сверх державы и крупнейшие компании нашего времени в шоке от того, что происходит, каждый день ситуация меняется непредсказуемо. Но Хабиб все равно должен драться, так получается? - Берегите себя и поставьте себя на мое место.

A post shared by Khabib Nurmagomedov (@khabib_nurmagomedov) on Apr 1, 2020 at 12:02pm PDT

The fighter explained that he was not willing to fight whilst governments and companies urged people to stay in their homes.

I understand everything and I’m definitely upset more than you to cancel the fight, probably like all others, I had many plans after the fight, but I can’t control it all.

Nurmagomedov is currently in Russia, which has issued a blanket lockdown in order to curb the spread of coronavirus. Thus, Khabib has been forced to withdraw, despite a backdrop of UFC President Dana White continuing with the card despite nearly all major sports ceasing due to the pandemic.

Khabib's manager Ali Abdelaziz even tweeted that White was a 'savage' for continually attempting to go ahead with the fight.

One thing I can tell you For everyone asking me about the fight Is no quitting in @danawhite he’s a fu::ing savage WOW

— Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) April 1, 2020

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The fight-card has been hanging in the balance for quite some time due to the pandemic.

White has so far continued unabated in his quest to ensure the fight goes ahead on April 18. The replacement fighter is probably Justin Gaethje, but John Kavanagh has also teased that there could be another person waiting in the wings for Ferguson...

maybe there's a third option...

— Coach Kavanagh (@John_Kavanagh) March 31, 2020

Either way, it remains to be seen if UFC 249 even goes ahead. As Khabib rightfully noted on his Instagram post:

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, and 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?

If all else fails, we could have Dana White fight Covid-19 as the main event...