MMA Fighters React To UFC 249 Getting Postponed

After weeks of attempting to keep it all together, UFC 249 is officially postponed. The company announced that several events have also been taken off of the calendar in the wake of the coronavirus.

It was a long journey to get to this point. The UFC had to work around UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov backing out of the event to quarantine. His fight with Tony Ferguson was postponed again, forcing Justin Gaethje to take his spot. UFC President Dana White stated that the event would take place in an undisclosed location (Tachi Palace, a Native American casino in Lemoore, California). U.S. Senator of California Diane Feinstein was one of several entities that sent out a notice condemning the idea of the event. Eventually, ESPN and Disney came in and made a decision.

Several fighters were scheduled at the last minute for the event. New fights were also being planned for future card. Fighters took to social media to share their thoughts and reactions to the recent news. You can check them out below:

April 18th might not be happening but everything is ok, I'm personally happy and proud of the dedication and commitment of the @ufc and @danawhite

Thank you for trying so hard 🙏#StayStrong #UFC249

— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) April 9, 2020

pic.twitter.com/g3wfyoOBt7

— Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) April 9, 2020

Stay safe people, #BitchFuckinSeason has officially been postponed but we’ll be back HARDer than ever. https://t.co/x7G3VXeAgF pic.twitter.com/Bp1oSJiPXe

— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) April 9, 2020

Sad for the fighters and fans who got their hopes up for this. But maybe it’s best to give this virus more time to blow over.
It’s probably bitter-sweet for many of the workers and fighters scheduled to scrap.
We all want to make money, but we want to protect our families too. https://t.co/zSg0KSWoy2

— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 9, 2020

#UFC249 cancelled WOW . Respect to @danawhite for trying his hardest to bring sports back to the world . Can’t wait until everyone can return back to their normal lives . Hang in there folks ! 🙏🏾

— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) April 9, 2020

#UFC249 pic.twitter.com/MNIhMYA65g

— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) April 9, 2020

#UFC249 got cancelled. Follow the news. pic.twitter.com/rQx5nGR4pP

— Jairzinho 'BIGI BOY' Rozenstruik (@JairRozenstruik) April 9, 2020

Disney still Undefeated 🤣🤣🤣🤣 !!!! I hope you bought some #buydis

— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) April 9, 2020

So can I eat pizza now?! https://t.co/HYYb242Rrt

— Katlyn Chookagian (@blondefighter) April 9, 2020

UFC 249 Has been cancelled. I’m not mad at it 🤷🏽‍♂️. It’s probably best for everyone and @danawhite said they will come do a show at @Tachipalace 😝🔥. #ufc249 #fightisland https://t.co/ztAjIFpP6q

— Max Griffin (@MaxPainGriffin) April 9, 2020

FIGHT ISLAND!!!! https://t.co/7mEP5e7dnr

— FIGHT ISLAND (@Benaskren) April 9, 2020

Looking forward to the day it’s safe to do our live events again. I miss working so much but until then, let’s do the best we can for ourselves, our loved ones and those in our communities 🙏🏼❤️👊🏼

— Megan Olivi (@MeganOlivi) April 9, 2020

All fighters: time to fuckin eat 🍩

— Brian Kelleher (@brianboom135) April 9, 2020

That look when you find out #UFC249 is postponed 😪😪😪 pic.twitter.com/b3OsITi1MI

— Gillian Robertson (@savage_ufc) April 9, 2020

Huge shoutout to @danawhite @seanshelby #Hunter @ufc and everyone that was working hard trying to make it happen! ✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾 can’t wait to go the Island 🌴 and fight! #StaySafe #Corona

— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) April 9, 2020

Being someone who was signed to fight in May: trying to diet down and prepare to possibly fight, while being on lockdown, and not having access to my normal training has definitely been hard.

I appreciate Dana and the UFC for how hard they’ve worked to try and make it happen. https://t.co/O9W4zFH83R

— Chase Hooper (@chase_hooper) April 9, 2020

Ughhhhhhhhhhh smh

— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) April 9, 2020