Khabib says he won’t break quarantine, UFC 249 fight is off

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov says he won’t leave quarantine in Russia to fight, dealing ar blow to UFC President Dana White’s determination to hold UFC 249 in two weeks amid coronavirus pandemic.

Nurmagomedov me his anuncement Wednesday on Instagram, telling mixed martial arts world to “take care of yourself and put yourself in my shoes.”

Nurmagomedov (28-0) was scheduled to fight top contender Tony Ferguson (25-3) in main event of UFC 249, which was initially scheduled for Brooklyn before pandemic threw UFC’s schedule into upheaval.

Nurmagomedov is in his native Dstan, and his Instagram post me it clear he isn’t leaving for fight even if White is able to find a location to st it. Nurmagomedov left California to return home when UFC h tentative plans to st UFC 249 in United Arab Emirates, but champion first revealed Monday that he probably wouldn’t be allowed to leave country again due to travel restrictions.

“I understand everything and I’m definitely more upset than you to cancel fight,” Nurmagomedov said. “Probably like all ors, I h many plans after fight, but I can’t control it all.”

White and UFC didn’t immediately comment on Nurmagomedov’s decision, which h been expected for several days since MMA world learned Nurmagomedov was in Dstan inste of California, where he typically finishes his training for his fights.

Nurmagomedov also expressed anger at forces attempting to compel him to fight, although he didn’t make it clear wher he was referring to fans or to White.

“It turns out that whole world should be in quarantine,” Nurmagomedov said. “Governments of all countries, famous people around world urge people to follow all safety requirements in order to limit spre of disease, to save people, and Khabib is only one relieved of all obligations and must demonstrate free will and train flying around world, for sake of fight?”

White has repeatedly vowed to find a safe way to hold UFC 249, biggest pay-per-view event on promotion’s spring calendar. White has claimed to have a venue selected where he will hold show without fans, although he hasn’t disclosed location.

UFC held a show without fans in Brazil on March 14, but has postponed its ensuing three events. White h planned to hold two of those events without fans at UFC’s training complex in Las Vegas, but Neva State Athletic Commission’s decision to suspend combat sports competition in state prevented him from doing it.

While Nurmagomedov has ruled himself out, several fighters have been campaigning for main slot on UFC 249 card.

Ferguson still wants to fight, and brawler Justin Gaethje has been proposed as a potential opponent. Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman also volunteered to fight on short tice in main event against veteran Jorge Masvidal.

pandemic has extended one of most baffling streaks in MMA history: Nurmagomedov and Ferguson have been officially booked to fight five times since December 2015, and fight still has never happened.

first scheduled matchup was called off in late 2015 due to an undisclosed injury for Nurmagomedov, and second proposed matchup in April 2016 was scrapped when Ferguson h a problem with his lungs. fight was booked for a third time at UFC 209 in March 2017, but was called off on day of weigh-in when Nurmagomedov became seriously ill from his weight cut.

UFC scheduled bout for fourth time for UFC 223 in April 2018. Six days before fight, Ferguson tore a ligament in his knee while walking onto a television set to promote fight, and it was scrapped again.