Full UFC 249 Fight Card Announced

As promised, UFC president Dana White announced the full UFC 249 fight card on Monday. The event takes place on April 18, but the UFC has yet to announce a venue for the ESPN+ pay-per-view card.

UFC 249 was initially scheduled to take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, but that venue became unavailable in mid-March when the New York State Athletic commission pulled its support because of the coronavirus pandemic. “Out of an abundance of caution and in line with recent guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and New York State, the New York State Athletic Commission informed the U.F.C. that U.F.C. 249 cannot be held in New York,” the commission said in an email message to the New York Times
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The original main event on the card pitted UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov against ex-interim titleholder Tony Ferguson. Nurmagomedov was recently forced to withdraw from the matchup when travel restrictions prevented him from leaving his home in Russia. Gaethje was slotted in to replace the champion on Monday. The interim title is up for grabs when Ferguson and Gaethje face off.

One of the more intriguing bouts to be announced for the revamped UFC 249 is the rematch between Jessica Andrade and Rose Namajunas. Andrade defeated Namajunas in May 2019 via a nasty slam knockout. The win gave Andrade the strawweight title. Weili Zhang knocked out Andrade In August 2019. Andrade has not fought since that loss. For Namajunas UFC 249 marks her first trip to the octagon since her loss to Andrade. 

UFC 249 Fight Card (VIA ESPN) 

Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje 

Jessica Andrade vs. Rose Namajunas

Greg Hardy vs. Yorgan De Castro

Vicente Luque vs. Niko Price

Calvin Kattar vs. Jeremy Stephens

Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik

Uriah Hall vs. Ronaldo Souza

Alexander Hernandez vs. Omar Morales

Ray Borg vs. Marlon Vera

Michael Johnson vs. Khama Worthy

Sijara Eubanks vs. Sarah Moras

Sam Alvey vs. Ryan Spann