Dustin Porier is ready to fill the void left by Khabib Nurmagomedov in the UFC 249 main event slot.
The former interim lightweight champion said he is willing to fight Tony Ferguson on short notice as Nurmagomedov is currently stranded in Russia and will not be able to fly in the United States next month due to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Khabib, the UFC 249 pay-per-view event will go ahead with or without him and the promotion is looking to bring in an All-American line up to save the fight card.
”So now I am hearing that they are looking to organize it with or without me. OK, go ahead,” the 155-pound king said.
“Everyone should follow the laws. I am not against it, I know that fighters need to feed their families and pay their bills. I know how hard it is for the fighter. Unless they fight they aren’t getting any money.”
“I am even hearing that they are looking for an opponent for Tony, because he is in the States and I am here in Russia.”
It didn’t take long for the number one lightweight contender to respond to Khabib.
Ferguson has slammed the Russian for using the travel ban as an excuse to back out of the title fight and challenged him to either defend or vacate the lightweight belt.
“April 18 Is Getting Close @TeamKhabib You’re Hiding In Russia. Travel Bans Will Not Prevent Me From Whoopin’ That Ass. Don’t Use It As An Excuse To Back Out. You Have Been Sent Many Locations, Send Us 1. Still My Bitch #DefendorVacate MF” he wrote on Twitter.
With Khabib doubtful for UFC 249, the promotion has tapped Justin Gaethje as potential replacement to headline the fight card with ‘El Cucuy.’
“Ferguson, per sources, has been offered a fight against top contender Justin Gaethje. However, that fight has not been agreed upon nor finalized. Neither has a location for the event,” the ESPN reported.
If Gaethje turns down the offer, ‘The Diamond’ from Louisiana is ready to take the challenge.
“I’m still going to eat clean and run in the mornings,” Poirier told MMA Fighting.
“I’m about to train here in Louisiana with my buddies. I’m good to go. That’s not really a priority as of right now. I’m just kind of waiting it out, day by day, to see what happens.”
Meanwhile, Poirier told MMA Junkie: “Not an ideal time frame or preparation, but any chance I get to prove that I’m the best, I’ll take it. I texted Dana and Sean that I would fight Tony.”
(Featured Image Source: Tony Ferguson and Dustin Poirier)