Khabib follows quarantine, won’t leave Russia for UFC 249

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

What more can Dana White offer Khabib Nurmagomedov to come and fight for UFC 249?

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, Nurmagomedov isn’t risking his health and break Russia’s quarantine just to fight for the main event of UFC 249.

Despite the crisis, UFC President White is still determined to push the event on April 18 where Nurmagomedov will be taking on the biggest fight of his career so far, against top-striker Tony Ferguson.

Under quarantine in Dagestan, Russia, Nurmagomedov said that flight restrictions in Russia due to COVID-19 will also make his travel hard.

With all major sporting events canceled so far including the rematch between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder, UFC 249 will only be the major MMA bout to take place amid the crisis.

So far, White has not put out any statement towards Nurmagomedov’s actions and has not hinted any plan of postponing the event.

“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,” Nurmagomedov said.