Khabib's Manager Responds To Fears UFC 249 Fight With Tony Ferguson Is Off Because Of Coronavirus

Khabib Nurmagomedov's manager Ali Abdelaziz has shut down rumours that UFC 249 is in danger of being postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Nurmagomedov makes the third defence of his UFC lightweight belt against Ferguson at UFC 249 on April 18.

The blockbuster title fight headlines a stacked card from Brooklyn, New York, but Governor Andrew Cuomo has now issued a state-wide ban on gatherings of over 500 people.

The event could be played behind closed doors or moved to a new location to prevent a fifth cancellation, but Abdelaziz insists the contest won't be postponed.

He took to social media to clear up the situation regarding Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson.

"Guys @TeamKhabib vs sunglasses is happening April 18th. UFC always find a way with or without fans this fight is going down people at home need entertainment," he wrote on Twitter.

The UFC have already taken action amid the worsening coronavirus pandemic. They've moved their events in Columbus and Portland to the UFC APEX in Las Vegas.

And UFC president Dana White provided an update regarding future events in wake of the illness.

"Hey everyone, UFC president Dana White here," he said. "We've been closely monitoring the situation with the coronavirus, and its potential impact on the health and safety of UFC athletes, staff and fans around the world. We're moving forward with all our UFC live events. But, we're going to adapt to these unprecedented circumstances.

"Some of the events will be moved from their original host city to the UFC Apex here in Las Vegas, and, unfortunately, fans may not be allowed to attend the events.

"You know I hate this, but the decision has been made in the best interests of everyone involved with our events including fans, athletes, staff and media partners. The events are still going to be broadcast live on ESPN the network and ESPN+ here in the United States."

He added: "Fans who had tickets to the event can get a full refund at the point of purchase. This is a very tough situation that is constantly evolving, so we will keep you updated as best we can. We greatly appreciate your understanding and continued support - thank you guys very much."

Topics: Khabib Nurmagomedov, UFC News, Coronavirus, Tony Ferguson, Fight News, UFC, UFC 249

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado, and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Darren Till, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

@https://twitter.com/NasJabbar