Odds Say UFC 249 Will Be Held in Florida – See All Options Here
- Dana White has been adamant UFC 249 will take place on April 18th despite recommendations made by the CDC on gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic
- A location for the event has yet to be established either stateside or worldwide
- See odds on where White could take his promotion to give sports fans live action on April 18th below
Despite the sports world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, UFC President Dana White remains focused on having UFC 249 take place on April 18th.
The event is set to be headlined by a long anticipated lightweight title fight featuring Khabib Nurmagomedov taking on Tony Ferguson.
UFC 249 was already forced from Brooklyn, but White recently came out and said a location is set and it is 99.9% complete. With Florida being the most likely host of the event, odds have been released on where this night of fights will eventually take place.
Odds on Location of UFC 249
| Location | Odds |
|---|---|
| Florida | +200 |
| United Arab Emirates | +350 |
| Russia | +400 |
| Mexico | +500 |
| Saudi Arabia | +900 |
| South Africa | +1000 |
| Nevada | +1400 |
| International Waters | +2500 |
| Area 51 | +800 |
| North Korea | +10000 |
Odds taken March 24.
Florida Most Likely Location Within USA
White has said he won’t announce the location right now, but he has a few options for locations both within and outside the United States. MMA Fighting reported that Florida was a potential location to host 249, albeit with no fans in attendance.
With the COVID-19 outbreak forcing countries travel policies to be as fluid as ever, it might be too much to ask for White to have the location, and the event as a whole, set in stone so far out from the date.
Will UFC 249 Even Happen?
The UFC is dead set on having the event, and White told people to not bet against him as he will get it done. Right now, I do believe the event takes place as there are locations around the world willing to host and even pay the UFC to bring the show to them.
Dana White tells Kevin Iole that Khabib/Ferguson is still happening on April 18. pic.twitter.com/nDC3GNcwbn
— Jed I. Goodman (@jedigoodman) March 23, 2020
He has made it clear everything will be back to normal on April 18 with UFC 249 whether fans are allowed in the building or not. So, don’t doubt White and the UFC that they can make this event happen.
Why Florida?
This past weekend, Combat Night MMA still happened in the state as the commission allowed the event to go on with no fans. When the commission was asked why they allowed it they simply said cancelling the event would be left to local officials.
The UFC is looking at Florida as a potential host for UFC 249. https://t.co/V6rjYrvK4n
— bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) March 24, 2020
“The event in Jacksonville is still scheduled for Saturday night and is licensed and regulated by the Florida State Boxing Commission,” Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) spokesperson Patrick Fargason wrote in a statement to ESPN. “Any decision to cancel the event will be left to the local officials.”
What’s the Best Bet?
It really comes down to two places, and that is Florida and the United Arab Emirates. We saw last year Dubai paid a ton of money to host Nurmagomedov vs. Poirier as the lightweight champion is a massive star there – so it wouldn’t be shocking to see them do that again for this fight.
Florida is the best bet as they have been allowing MMA fights to continue, and being in the United States leaves less stress on the majority of fighters trying to get to the event and back home.
Pick: Florida (+200)
Cole graduated from Sheridan College in April of 2019 with a diploma in journalism. He now is a full-time freelance writer, focusing on MMA for sites like BJPENN, while also covering the Toronto Blue Jays as a credentialed media member. At SBD, Cole covers the four major sports and MMA.
