Las Vegas, April 7: Dana White revealed on Monday (April 7) that UFC 249 is 100 percent on after Justin Gaethje replaced Khabib Nurmagomedov as Tony Ferguson's opponent in the main event for the interim belt.
Unbeaten lightweight champion Khabib was scheduled to face Ferguson in in Brooklyn on April 18, but the coronavirus pandemic, which has wreaked havoc globally, scuppered the original plans.
Khabib was forced to pull out of the fight due to travel restrictions which prevented him from entering the United States and Dubai. The Russian star was still hoping to fight Ferguson as White looked into an alternate location.
While, White confirmed the event is 100 percent on, the location of UFC 249 still remains undisclosed as Ferguson (25-3) is all set to step into the octagon against fellow American Gaethje (21-3) for the interim lightweight championship.
The fight is signed and is 100% ON LIVE on ESPN somewhere on EARTH!!!! 😃@TonyFergusonXT vs @Justin_Gaethje is LIVE on @espn+ PPV April 18th for the interim lightweight belt! pic.twitter.com/aH44zg5K30
— danawhite (@danawhite) April 6, 2020
White wrote via Twitter on Monday (April 7): "The fight is signed and is 100 per cent ON LIVE on ESPN somewhere on EARTH!!!! @TonyFergusonXT vs @Justin_Gaethje is LIVE on @espn+ PPV April 18th for the interim lightweight belt!"
Gaethje, who has claimed three consecutive finishes over Donald Cerrone, Edson Barboza and James Vick in his last three bouts, Tweeted: "#forthepeople I'm terrified and I f***** love it #ufc".
#forthepeople I’m terrified and I fucken love it. #ufc
— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) April 6, 2020
(With OPTA inputs)