Report: UFC 249 to take place in Florida

UFC has been attempting to air UFC 249 for several weeks now, and they have a new date and location in mind. The event is now scheduled to take place on May 9th at an undisclosed location in Florida, according to MMA Fighting reporter Mike Heck. The fighters are reportedly going to fly into Jacksonville and then travel to the location.

This is the third location for UFC 249. It was originally scheduled to take place April 18 in Brooklyn, N.Y., before it was moved to Tachi Palace Casino Resort in Lemoore, Calif. The event was formally postponed earlier this month when California lawmakers pushed back on the UFC’s attempted end-run around state orders.

There was thought the event would be canceled entirely, but the state of Florida is doing what it can to put on sporting events amidst the pandemic. The governor has declared certain work essential, and somehow it could include MMA. Make of that what you will, but Dana White is intent on doing whatever he can within the bounds of the law to air his PPV broadcasts.

UFC 249 is currently headlined by two title fights. The interim lightweight title is on the line when Tony Ferguson faces Justin Gaethje, and the bantamweight title is on the line when Henry Cejudo defends his title against Dominick Cruz.