Despite numerous coronavirus-related setbacks that prompted its postponement, UFC 249 is now back on the calendar, and the full card for the event has been released.
Dana White has finally confirmed the reports of the event’s new location, which will now be at the VyStar Arena in Jacksonville, Florida on May 9. The location decision comes on the heels of the Florida government’s decision to deem professional sports as “essential business” in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The WWE has already hosted an event in the wake of the announcement, and many people assumed that White would be following in the wrestling promotion’s footsteps to try to make UFC 249 finally happen.
The Florida State Boxing Commission will oversee the event. The main card will be pay-per-view, and the prelims can be watched on ESPN.
There are a few particularly exciting matches on the card, with an interim lightweight title fight taking place in the main event between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje. The winner of the bout will take on Khabib Nurmagomedov in a future event; Nurmagomedov was originally slated to defend his title against Ferguson on April 18, but the complications the card experienced pushed their meeting back again.
The co-main event will see Henry Cejudo attempt to defend his bantamweight title against former champion Dominick Crus, and the main event of the prelims will feature a lightweight rematch in which Donald Cerrone will attempt to avenge his loss against Anthony Pettis from 2013.
The full card is listed below:
- MAIN EVENT: Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje
- CO-MAIN EVENT: Henry Cejudo vs. Dominick Cruz
- Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
- Jeremy Stephens vs. Calvin Kattar
- Greg Hardy vs. Yorgan De Castro
PRELIMINARY CARD
FEATURED PRELIM: Donald Cerrone vs. Anthony Pettis
- Fabricio Werdum vs. Aleksei Oleinik
- Carla Esparza vs. Michelle Waterson
- Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Uriah Hall
- Vicente Luque vs. Niko Price
- Bryce Mitchell vs. Charles Rosa
- Ryan Spann vs. Sam Alvey
