Khabib Nurmagomedov (photo via YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Now that all signs point to Khabib Nurmagomedov not fighting Tony Ferguson at UFC 249, some fans have been critical of the champion’s decision to return to Russia. But, more recently, the lightweight champ has fired back at his critics.

Late last month it was reported that Nurmagomedov had returned to Russia from the United States, with the intention of completing his camp for the April 18th bout there. Since then, however, Russia has banned all travel in-and-out of the nation due to the coronavirus. As a result, Nurmagomedov’s fight with Ferguson is almost certainly off.

The undefeated fighter took to Instagram on Thursday, and during a live session, he responded to fans who have blamed him for what’s transpired (quotes via MMA Fighting).

“We talk about where we going to fight,” Nurmagomedov said. “U.S., Europe, Emirates, Asia, whatever, but nobody knows location, but everybody wants I fly somewhere. UFC don’t show us location. Where we going to fight? This is what I’m talking about.

“I don’t understand this. The UFC tried to find a location last almost one month. They don’t find. What about me? This is my mistake?”

“…You know what’s interesting? My name is Khabib, I am not coronavirus,” Nurmagomedov said. “My name is not coronavirus. Dana (White) is Dana. Tony Ferguson is Tony Ferguson. My name is Khabib. But No. 1 thing that makes me crazy is when people say I pull out or I do something. I (don’t) understand this. I’m still training since December. I train very hard since December. I come to U.S. because UFC give me location, New York, Barclays Center. I come to U.S. I train 40 days, then when everything goes crazy, they say U.S. is 100 percent no fight.

“So we move to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, why? Because they told me 99 percent it’s going to be in Dubai. Like my last training camp, I come to U.S., I train with coach Javier [Mendez] at AKA for 55 days, then we move to Abu Dhabi because fight was in Abu Dhabi. That’s why we moved to Abu Dhabi.

“I understand. If Abu Dhabi, no problem. We did this before, we’re going to do this one more time. Let’s go Abu Dhabi. We come, they close gate. This is not my problem. I don’t make mistake. One more time, I want to say I am Khabib, I am not coronavirus.”

UFC 249 was originally booked to take place in Brooklyn, New York. But, due to the coronavirus pandemic, public gatherings in the state have been banned. It’s not currently known if and or where UFC 249 will take place.