Tony Ferguson found out the cancellation of the UFC 249 fight card at the wrong time.
UFC president Dana White announced on Thursday that the said fight card will no longer happen next week after its broadcast partner, ESPN, advised the promotion to cancel the event due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Today we got a call from the highest level you can go at Disney and the highest level of ESPN. One thing that I’ve said since we’ve started our relationship and partnership with ESPN is that it’s been an incredible one. It’s been an amazing partnership,” White said.
“ESPN has been very, very good to us, and the powers that be there asked me to stand down and not do this event next Saturday.”
It was a shocking turn of events for the revamped fight card as the UFC confirmed just three days ago it will go ahead on April 18 in a private island in California, with a title bout between Ferguson and Justin Gaethje serving as its headlining act.
For Good Reason
Undefeated in the past 12 fights, Ferguson has no plans of slowing down and vows to give Gaethje ‘a highlight of his own’ in their upcoming interim title clash.
But these plans bite the dust when the UFC decided to postpone its upcoming MMA show indefinitely – a development Ferguson learned while speaking to Brian Martin of OC Register to promote the event.
“You know what? I’m sure it’s for a good reason,” the number one lightweight contender said per MMA Fighting.
“Let’s be real. I gotta keep the faith.”
“I gotta keep this … f*ck… keep this small circle close, bro, and just keep focusing on what we can control, which is our heart rate and our breathing.”
Keep Training
So what’s next for Ferguson after the UFC 249 postponement?
The American fighter, who is known for his unconventional training methods, will go back to the gym to put on some muscle and keep best fighting shape intact.
“Dude, I’m just gonna keep collecting trophies and doing my same sh*t,” Ferguson continued.
“Every single time I wake up in the morning, when I do my work, say my prayers and I do (stuff), I hug my little boy … whew … kiss my wife. I just … keep doing what I’m doing. What am I gonna do?”
“The constant is things are always gonna change.”
“The variable is how am I gonna react to it? So we could throw that variable, baby, and we make that the constant. Which is why I’m gonna keep smiling, I’m gonna keep training, and you know what? I’m gonna put on some muscle. Dude, I’m skinny.”
“I’m gonna try my best. I’m gonna do it. I’m gonna try my best. If I fall, I’ll get back up.”
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