Sports
UFC 249: Fight of the Decade hangs in the balance as COVID-19 threatens to cancel the long-awaited showdown
BY MARCEL MARIAK
For over four years, MMA fans have been anticipating the fight of the decade: a legendary battle between Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov and Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson. Sadly, due to unfortunate injuries sustained by the two fighters, the fight has been cancelled and rescheduled on many occasions. Finally, when both the combatants were fully recovered, the UFC scheduled the long-awaited battle for April 18th, 2020. This time, fans were convinced that the highly anticipated showdown would finally happen. Disastrously, only a month before the listed fight date, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the shutdown of all non-essential businesses and gatherings in America. Once again, the Khabib – Ferguson brawl is in jeopardy of being canceled.
Why the hype?
Throughout their careers, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson have made names for themselves in the MMA community. Both warriors have extraordinarily dynamic and entertaining fighting styles, and their resilience in the octagon allows both fighters to brawl and put on a show.
Khabib Nurmagomedov, born in the harsh, isolated mountain ranges of Dagestan, Russia, is a two-time Sambo world champion and current UFC Lightweight Champion. He is an unbeaten fighter, holding the longest undefeated streak in MMA with a record of 28-0-0. Khabib is known for his incredible strength and wrestling skills. His high-pressure fight style, paired with almost superhuman strength, allows him to toss and maul his opponents in the octagon. Khabib also has a remarkably extreme lifestyle: it involves stringent diets, running in the mountains to build endurance, and wresting bears (yes, he actually does that).
Tony Ferguson, born in California, is known for his fast, dynamic fighting style; and his ability to take the fight to his opponents, whether it’s on the ground or standing up. Although he’s an incredibly skilled martial artist in the octagon, Tony is even better known in the MMA community for his hilarious training techniques and odd behaviors. Videos of Ferguson’s unusual training sessions show him kicking metal pipes, swinging weights while standing on an exercise ball, and attempting break dancing moves while suspended on bungee cords.
The juxtaposition of a robust, dangerous, mysterious Khabib, versus the goofy, unpredictable Ferguson, has fans picking sides in anticipation of the fight. The difference in the competitor’s attitudes has also led to hilarious trash-talk between the two fighters, with Ferguson and Khabib launching into amusing insult-battles at press conferences.
Money talks
UFC president, Dana White, has stated that the organization is doing its utmost to allow the fight to unfold as planned. In response to the global pandemic, the contest has already been moved to a closed venue where only essential employees will be allowed entrance. Furthermore, the location of the showdown remains undisclosed by the UFC to prevent a large mob from gathering outside.
The UFC president has expressed his desire to follow through with the fight. Unfortunately, the absence of a crowd strips the organization of thousands, if not millions of dollars. The UFC is a massive organization with hundreds of employees that keep it running smoothly. Of all the revenue the company collects from shows, an immense amount of it is spent on paying for the venue, employees, referees, doctors, fighters, technicians, and so on. Fans unable to attend the event will still likely purchase pay-per-view tickets to watch the fight from home. However, a $50 pay-per-view ticket can hardly compare to the hundreds or even thousands of dollars spent by each fan attending a UFC event.
Although the UFC president and fans both want the fight to go through, the organization may choose to postpone the battle again. The showdown between Khabib and Ferguson is one of the most highly anticipated matches of all time, and the lack of a real audience at the fight will result in a severe loss of profit for the UFC. The UFC has a responsibility to not only protect its business but also its employees from the global pandemic. While the MMA community would be saddened and disappointed by the cancellation of the fight, the safety of its staff, fighters, and business is the highest priority of the UFC.
As fans of the sport, the best we can do is hope that the showdown will occur before the start of a new decade and that both fighters can remain safe and healthy in the interim.