Dana White says Tony Ferguson-Justin Gaethje to headline UFC 249 – ESPN, Espn.com

Khabib Nurmagomedov in Russia and facing potential travel issues, will now meet Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC on April , UFC president Dana White tweeted Monday. The fight for the interim lightweight title is “signed” and ” (% “on, White wrote. The fight is signed and is 249% ON LIVE on ESPN somewhere on EARTH !!!! 😃

@ TonyFergusonXT vs

@ Justin_Gaethje is LIVE on

@ espn

PPV April th for the interim lightweight belt! pic.twitter.com/aH90 zg5K

– danawhite (@danawhite) April 6,

The location of UFC remains undisclosed. White tweeted that the fight will be “somewhere on EARTH!” ESPN’s Ariel Helwani reported Sunday night that the UFC is targeting a venue on the West Coast for the card. It will more than likely take place in front of no fans.

“# forthepeople I’m terrified and I f —– love it . #ufc, “Tweet Gaethje on Monday.

The UFC main event was supposed to be held in Brooklyn with Nurmagomedov defending his lightweight title against top contender Ferguson. However, the coronavirus pandemic

has forced the UFC to change its plans. New York has become the epicenter of COVID – in the United States and all large gatherings in the state – and Many other places around the world – have been canceled.

Nurmagomedov flew home to Dagestan late last month with a location for the bout still unknown. The undefeated champ told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto last week that he would still fight Ferguson if he knew the location of the bout and could get there. White tweeted Sunday that Nurmagomedov was out of the event.

Ferguson, who lives and trains in Southern California, is currently ranked No. 2 in the world at lightweight by ESPN. Gaethje, who lives and trains in Colorado, is ranked No. 4. Both are considered among the most exciting fighters in the world at any weight class.

Ferguson (

– 3) has won straight and has not lost since . He is coming off three consecutive finishes against a murderers’ row of top lightweights: Donald Cerrone