How to watch UFC 249 in the UAE: All you need to know about the UFC's first event after coronavirus lockdown

Tony Ferguson v Justin Gaethje headline the May 10 event in Florida

Tony Ferguson will fight Justin Gaethje in the main event at UFC 249. Reuters

The UFC marks its return to hosting live events with next week's UFC 249, despite almost all other major sport in the world maintaining their shutdown amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Determined to get his promotion back up and running, president Dana White has put together a stacked card. Here are the details.

What is it?

UFC 249, the latest instalment in the world’s lead mixed martial arts promotion. The event has been in the offing for some time, and was originally scheduled for April 18, but faced a number of issues amid the pandemic.

With three shows leading up to that initial date cancelled, White pushed on with making UFC 249 happen on April 18, but was eventually asked to "stand down" by Disney and ESPN, the promotion's parent company and broadcast partner, respectively. However, he has eventually delivered, with UFC 249 the first of three events to take place in a week.

When is it?

May 10 (May 9 in the United States). The main card kicks off at 6am UAE time.

Where is it?

VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. The venue will host UFC 249 and then events on May 14 (UAE) and May 17 (UAE). UFC 249 was originally to be staged at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, but restrictions implemented in New York in the face of the outbreak prompted a change of venue. The event will run behind closed doors (without an audience) and will be produced with only essential personnel in attendance.

Who is fighting?

Tony Ferguson's interim title clash with Justin Gaethje headlines, in what is sure to be a hugely entertaining match-up. Ferguson, the No 1-ranked lightweight challenger, had been lined up to finally face undefeated champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, but that match was made impossible earlier this month when the Dagestan native returned to Russia.

Ferguson (25-3) is riding a joint-record, 12-bout win streak stretching back to 2012, while Gaethje’s explosive talent gives him a 21-2 record in mixed martial arts. He is unbeaten in his past three fights.

In the co-main event, Henry Cejudo could etch his name into UFC history as the greatest bantamweight champion of all-time when he takes on previous title-holder Dominick Cruz. Cejudo is one of only four athletes in UFC history to hold two championships at the same time (flyweight the other).

Elsewhere, the likely heavyweight title eliminator that pits Francis Ngannou against Jairzinho Rozenstruik should be one of the highlights of the night, while fan favourite Donald Cerrone takes on Anthony Pettis in a rematch of their 2013 bout.

Full fight card (subject to change):

- Tony Ferguson v Justin Gaethje - interim lightweight title

- Henry Cejudo v Dominick Cruz - bantamweight title

- Francis Ngannou v Jair Rozenstruik - heavyweights

- Calvin Kattar v Jeremy Stephens – featherweights

- Greg Hardy v Yorgan De Castro – heavyweights

- Donald Cerrone v Anthony Pettis – welterweights

- Vicente Luque v Niko Price - welterweights

- Fabricio Werdum v Aleksei Oleinik – heavyweights

- Ronaldo Souza v Uriah Hall – middleweights

- Carla Esparza v Michelle Waterson - women's straw weights

- Bryce Mitchell v Charles Rosa – featherweights

- Ryan Spann v Sam Alvey - light heavyweights

How to watch in UAE

Fight fans can watch the action through UFC Arabia app.

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