Det ser ut som den mest efterlängtade fighten i UFC:s historia kan komma bli inställd igen.
Khabib Nurmagomedov och Tony Ferguson är inbokade att mötas vid UFC 249 den 18 april. Men i takt med att coronapandemin förvärrats har matchen sett allt svårare att förverkliga denna vår. Trots detta har UFC:s VD Dana White sagt upprepade gånger att han kommer göra allt för att matchen ska äga rum som planerat.
Nurmagomedov har nu dock uttalat sig via Instagram Live där han berättar att han just nu sitter fast i hemlandet Dagestan (delrepublik i Ryssland).
Lättviktsmästaren sade att han lämnade USA efter att han blivit tillsagd att matchen mot Ferguson definitivt inte skulle äga rum där. Ni kan läsa hans uttalande nedan (översatt av RT):
We were training in the AKA without any information regarding the fight, where and how is it going to happen. Then the UFC told us that the fight 100% isn’t happening in the States. And they said that 99% that it will happen in Emirates, Abu Dhabi.
After talking to the UFC we decided to fly over to the Emirates a month before the fight. I don’t remember the exact date, it was 19th or 20th, I’ll have to check. But when we landed in Emirates we learned that they are going to close borders. And no one will be able to leave or fly in, with exception for residents.
So we had to fly back to Russia. Currently I am in Dagestan and I am training and preparing every day. Although I don’t know what am I preparing for. Because after we came to Russia we also learned that the borders are going to be locked. Same like in the States, same like in Europe, Emirates, everywhere. The whole world is in quarantine right now.
I och med att han sitter fast i Dagestan tror lättviktsmästaren att UFC kommer försöka hitta en ny motståndare till Ferguson:
So now I am hearing that they are looking to organise it with or without me. OK, go ahead. Everyone should follow the laws. I am not against it, I know that fighters need to feed their families and pay their bills. I know how hard it is for the fighter. Unless they fight they aren’t getting any money.
I am even hearing that they are looking for an opponent for Tony, because he is in the States and I am here in Russia. But I am here not on my own will. The UFC told me that this fight 100% isn’t happening in the USA, and even if it’s not happening in the Emirates it will happen on this side of Atlantic. We discussed everything with the UFC. By that time I already spent five weeks of hard training in the AKA.
Now I don’t really know what’s going on. It’s really hard to train and cut your weight when the whole world is locked down and you don’t know what you are preparing for. But it’s not the first time I face obstacles in my career.
Detta är femte gången som UFC försökt anordna mötet mellan herrarna.
