PERTH, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 11: A general view of the Octagon during the UFC 221 event at Perth Arena on February 11, 2018 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
UFC 249 heads to Jacksonville, Florida on May 9
Jacksonville, Florida is the newest location for UFC 249 on May 9.
Following a pair of postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will take place at the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter first reported the new location on Thursday.
Florida became the latest option for the event after WWE was considered an ‘Essential business’ by Gov. Ron DeSantis. WWE continues to film events at its Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.
This marks the UFC’s third attempt at making the event happen. The promotion originally planned to host the event in Brooklyn, New York on April 18, but it fell through due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The UFC then resorted to going to tribal lands, targeting the Tachi Palace Casino Resort in California.
The plan shut down after California Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed his concerns to Disney, the parent company of UFC’s broadcast partner ESPN.
UFC 249 original headliner between champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Ton Ferguson fell through. Nurmagomedov withdrew because of travel restrictions in Russia.
The event includes two title fights, including an interim lightweight title between champion Tony Ferguson and challenger Justin Gaethje.
Bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo will also defend his strap against Dominick Cruz. The will be available through pay-per-view.
UFC 249 Quick Card
Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje – 155 lbs
Henry Cejudo vs. Dominick Cruz – 135 lbs
Francis N’Gannou vs. J. Rozenstruik – 265 lbs
Jeremy Stephens vs. Calvin Kattar – 145 lbs
Fabrício Werdum vs. Alexey Oleinik – 265 lbs
Donald Cerrone vs. Anthony Pettis – 170 lbs
Greg Hardy vs. Yorgan De Castro – 265 lbs
Carla Esparza vs. Michelle Waterson – 115 lbs
Ronaldo Souza vs. Uriah Hall – 185 lbs
Vicente Luque vs. Niko Price – 170 lbs
Charles Rosa vs. Bryce Mitchell – 145 lbs
