“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?”
With New York in lockdown as the city attempts to limit COVID-19’s effects, hosting UFC 249 in the United Arab Emirates had been mooted, though worldwide travel restrictions also make that idea look improbably
While he acknowledged his decision would not be to fans’ liking, Nurmagomedov told the mixed martial arts world to “take care of yourself and put yourself in my shoes.”
“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,” Nurmagomedov said.
“The greatest countries and the largest companies of our time are shocked by what is happening, every day the situation changes unpredictably.”
Nurmagomedov’s desire to remain in quarantine means that one of the strangest streaks in MMA history goes on — the Russian fighter and Ferguson have been booked to fight five times since December 2015, and the bout has never happened due to injury or illness.
Ferguson has gone as far as to suggest that Nurmagomedov should be stripped of his title.
“The guys that are really doing it are the doctors and the nurses and the people taking care of everybody. If we can do our little bit of part to try and make something happen, I’m down with that.”
Meanwhile, a number of other fighters have thrust themselves forward as potential opponents for Ferguson.
CNN have reached out to the UFC for a response.