‘The weaklings won’ - Fighters react to UFC 249 cancellation
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Pro fighters took to Twitter en masse to give their thoughts on the breaking news that UFC 249 had been cancelled and future UFC events postponed.
As of Monday, it looked like the UFC had found a way to succeed. Dana White – who had promised for weeks that the promotion would absolutely find a way to make UFC 249 happen on April 18th – announced that Justin Gaethje would fight Tony Ferguson in a yet to be named location. That following the withdrawal of Khabib Nurmagomedov, who was stuck in Russia—with his home country’s travel ban to deal with.
More fights were announced, plans of a potential private island for future events were teased. And eventually it leaked that UFC 249 would take place at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, on tribal land, in Lemoore, CA. With the location public, however, the new fight card quickly came crashing down.
On Thursday, April 9th, just days after officially announcing the new lineup of UFC 249, White spoke to ESPN and announced that the card had been cancelled. Apparently ESPN & Disney brass had spoken to him personally, and told the UFC president he needed to “stand down.”
As a result of the news, fighters from around the world took to twitter to give their thoughts on the UFC having to shut down their first event in weeks—and to indefinitely postpone their upcoming schedule as well.
Booooo https://t.co/5jGj49Pv02
— Free LondonReal (@Benaskren) April 9, 2020
Ughhhhhhhhhhh smh
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) April 9, 2020
Smh the weaklings won
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) April 9, 2020
Wow!!! It is what it is.... what can you do ♂️ https://t.co/9YA43h4aGF
— Max Griffin (@MaxPainGriffin) April 9, 2020
I just accepted my 3rd opponent in a week... sucks. Stay safe everyone !
— Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) April 9, 2020
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) April 9, 2020
Give it a few weeks ... or so... we be back... #ufc250
— Pannie Kianzad UFC (@PannieKianzad) April 9, 2020
FREE SPORTS https://t.co/ZEE0xMfYDm
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) April 9, 2020
Fuck....
— Ray Borg (@tazmexufc) April 9, 2020
All fighters: time to fuckin eat
— Brian Kelleher (@brianboom135) April 9, 2020
— Niko Price (@Nikohybridprice) April 9, 2020
#UFC249 cancelled WOW . Respect to @danawhite for trying his hardest to bring sports back to the world . Can’t wait until everyone can return back to their normal lives . Hang in there folks !
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) April 9, 2020
That look when you find out #UFC249 is postponed pic.twitter.com/b3OsITi1MI
— Gillian Robertson (@savage_ufc) April 9, 2020
No brainer https://t.co/yvcIOOSHtn
— patrick cote (@patrick_cote) April 9, 2020
NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
— Lauren Murphy (@LaurenMurphyMMA) April 9, 2020
https://t.co/gIsP42MVJF
UFC249 has taken me on an emotional rollercoaster! I can’t take this shit.
— Julian marquez (@JMarquezMMA) April 9, 2020
Imma start hosting backyard brawls on IG live. #cantstopme #ufc249
I am so mad that we won’t get to see fights from a private island lair as promised https://t.co/K5RzkXUGVO
— Sean O'Connell (@realOCsports) April 9, 2020
Alright this is it.. great effort from @danawhite and @ufc to make it happening https://t.co/09mJF1ubin
— Nordine Taleb (@TNT83MMA) April 9, 2020
Well... shit! What next?
— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) April 9, 2020
— Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) April 9, 2020
Bravo @danawhite you did all you could. That’s admirable of you and we all appreciate it .
— Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) April 9, 2020
Thank you @danawhite @mickmaynard2 and everyone @ufc for trying so hard to make this happen. We fighters just want to work and you guys have bent over backwards and spent millions to try and let me. Thank you. As i… https://t.co/Svwt0KnXi1
— Sam Alvey (@smilensam) April 9, 2020
Well, all you can say is “A” for effort Dana. Island fights it is. https://t.co/151043CCoK
— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) April 9, 2020
April 18th might not be happening but everything is ok, I'm personally happy and proud of the dedication and commitment of the @ufc and @danawhite
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) April 9, 2020
Thank you for trying so hard #StayStrong #UFC249
At least I can go to the store to get some @mmschocolate, and eat my feeling away
— Chase Hooper (@chase_hooper) April 9, 2020
Sad for the fighters and fans who got their hopes up for this. But maybe it’s best to give this virus more time to blow over.
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 9, 2020
It’s probably bitter-sweet for many of the workers and fighters scheduled to scrap.
We all want to make money, but we want to protect our families too. https://t.co/zSg0KSWoy2
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