UFC 249 date and start time: Ferguson and Gaethje to fight on ‘private island’ as Dana White reveals fight car

UFC 249 is set to go ahead despite fears over coronavirus and it now has a new headline bout.

It was all set to be a potential classic but the promotion lost their main event fight just weeks before it was set to get under way.

Unbeaten lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was due to put his crown on the line against former interim title holder Tony Ferguson.

The pair have previously been scheduled to fight on FOUR separate occasions, but each of those bouts has been cancelled for various reasons.

And is seems that curse has struck again for UFC 249, with the champion in his native Russia, which has closed its borders.

Despite that blow, UFC president Dana White has now booked a new main event with Justin Gaethje stepping in to face Ferguson.

UFC 249: Date and UK start time

The UFC main event was originally set for a headline slot in Brooklyn, New York on Saturday, April 18 but that has had to be changed.

While the date has remained the same, a new location and start time has not been confirmed as of yet.

But White revealed he is close to sorting out a venue for the fight, claiming the show is set to go ahead on a ‘private island’.

“I am a day or two away from securing a private island,” White told TMZ.

“I have a private island that I’ve secured; we’re getting the infrastructure put in now, so I’m gonna start doing the international fights, too.

“With international fighters, because I won’t be able to get international fighters into the US, I have a private island that I’m gonna start flying them all in and doing international fights from there.

“So as of April 18th, the UFC is back up and running.

“We have all our own planes and everything. They’re gonna fly into the island, get the fighters.”

UFC 249: Why was the original headline cancelled?

Despite White’s best efforts to finally arrange a Khabib and Ferguson clash, the bout has had to be postponed for the FIFTH time.

Lightweight champ Khabib ruled himself out of his title showdown as he remains in coronavirus lockdown in Russia.

Posting on Instagram, the Russian revealed: “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 as the States, same in Europe, Emirates – everywhere. The whole world is in quarantine right now.

“So now I am hearing that they are looking to organise it with or without me. OK, go ahead.

“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.”

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

UFC 249: TV channel and live stream

UFC fight fans on this side of the pond will be able to watch this bout on BT Sport.

Pay-per-view information is yet to be released from BT Sport Box Office.

Check back to talkSPORT for regular UFC updates and the very latest MMA news.

UFC 249: Fight card

Main Card

• Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje – Lightweight
• Jessica Andrade vs. Rose Namajunas Women’s – Strawweight
• Greg Hardy vs. Yorgan de Castro – Heavyweight
• Vicente Luque vs. Niko Price – Welterweight
• Jeremy Stephens vs. Calvin Kattar – Featherweight

Preliminary Card

• Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik – Heavyweight
• Ronaldo Souza vs. Uriah Hall – Middleweight
• Alexander Hernandez vs. Omar Morales – Lightweight
• Marlon Vera vs. Ray Borg – Bantamweight
• Michael Johnson vs. Khama Worthy – Lightweight
• Sijara Eubanks vs. Sarah Moras Women’s – Bantamweight
• Ryan Spann vs. Sam Alvey Light – Heavyweight