UFC boss Dana White remains defiant next month's superfight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson will go ahead, despite the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) confirming the COVID-19 pandemic will prevent it being held in Brooklyn as planned.
A sellout crowd was expected at the Barclays Centre, but with restrictions on the size of public gatherings in New York, the NYSAC has confirmed an alternative venue will be required.
In what's been billed as the biggest fight in UFC history, Khabib (28-0) was set to defend his title against Ferguson (25-3) on April 18.
Despite Brooklyn being ruled out for UFC 249, White maintains the fight will be held elsewhere.
"They'll be fighting, but not in New York," White told The Post. "I will get it figured out. I love the city of New York and I want to come back as soon as possible. But life is going to have to get back to normal."
White refused to criticise New York's decision, pointing out that Las Vegas is facing a similar shutdown.
"The strip is going black tonight," White said.
"It's going to be dark. That's insane.
"Can you imagine what a tough decision it was for the governor of Nevada to pull the plug on the casinos? This city lives off the casinos. That's the way it works.
"People are making tough choices and doing what's right to figure out how to solve this problem. It's about solving problems.
"I think the state of New York has done a great job with what they're doing and I think Nevada has done a great job.
"Everybody is doing a good job dealing with this thing day by day.
"We're the only combat sports [organisation] in history to provide our fighters with health care.
"We were taking care of our guys and being crazy about health and safety long before the coronavirus.
"Fifteen days ago the world was perfect. The economy was booming; the market was through the roof, real estate was great. The world was perfect 15 days ago. This is just one of those things that's happening.
"We're going to have to deal with it. Instead of panicking, freaking out and buying up all the toilet paper on Earth, people need to calm down, stop panicking and let's start figuring out ways to fix this."
One venue reportedly being considered to host UFC 249 is the UFC Apex Facility, a state-of-the-art centre that opened in Las Vegas last year.
The arena has built-in production facilities that could be used to broadcast the event.
"I have my own arena," White told TSN.
"I have my own production. I have everything. I have everything you need to put on events. So there isn't much that I can't pull off."
Even if the fight goes ahead as scheduled next month, fans are unlikely to be allowed to attend.
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