Tony Ferguson will meet Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC 249 on April 18, UFC president Dana White tweeted Monday. The location of UFC 249 remains undisclosed. White tweeted that the fight will be "somewhere on EARTH!" Ferguson is currently ranked No. 2 in the world at lightweight. Gaethje is ranked No. 4.
The UFC 249 main event was supposed to be held in Brooklyn, with Khabib Nurmagomedov defending his lightweight title against top contender Ferguson. However, the coronavirus pandemic has forced the UFC to change its plans. New York has become the epicenter of COVID-19 in the United States and all large gatherings in the state have been canceled.
Ferguson (25-3) has won 12 straight and has not lost since 2012 and holds the longest winning streak in UFC lightweight history. Gaethje (21-2) has won three straight finishes, and is the former World Series of Fighting lightweight champion. Gaethje has only gone to decision twice in 23 career fights.
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