We now have clarity. UFC 249 is a go and its full fight card was announced by the UFC late on Monday night.
Khabib Nurmagomedov will not be competing on the card as expected.
Headlining a stacked card given the circumstances, Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje will compete for the interim UFC lightweight championship.
A monstrous heavyweight bout between Francis Ngannou and Jairzinho Rozenstruik – which was due to headline the now-cancelled UFC Columbus card – has now been added to UFC 249.
Another heavyweight fight set for UFC Columbus has been added to the UFC 249 line up, pitting Greg Hardy against Yorgan de Castro.
Elsewhere, a top women’s strawweight fight featuring Rose Namajunas and Jessica Andrade is set to co-headline the event, while contests between Vicente Luque – Niko Price, Jeremy Stephens – Calvin Kattar, and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza – Uriah Hall have been confirmed.
More fights could be announced imminently ahead of the 18 April event.
At present, no location for the event has been confirmed by UFC President Dana White.
UFC 249 was originally slated to take place in Brooklyn, New York’s Barclays Center. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, New York governor Andrew Cuomo issued an order restricting mass gatherings and sporting events.
Full UFC 249 fight card as announced by the UFC
Interim lightweight championship: Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje
Women’s strawweight: Jessica Andrade vs. Rose Namajunas
Heavyweight: Greg Hardy vs. Yorgan De Castro
Welterweight: Vicente Luque vs. Niko Price
Featherweight: Calvin Kattar vs. Jeremy Stephens
Heavyweight: Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Middleweight: Uriah Hall vs. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza
Lightweight: Alexander Hernandez vs. Omar Morales
Bantamweight: Ray Borg vs. Marlon Vera
Lightweight: Michael Johnson vs. Khama Worthy
Women’s bantamweight: Sijara Eubanks vs. Sarah Moras
Light Heavyweight: Sam Alvey vs. Ryan Spann
