Report: UFC 249 Venue Close to Being Secured; Fight Card to Be Announced Monday

The UFC might be zeroing in on a new venue for its UFC 249 event April 18.

ESPN's Ariel Helwani reported Sunday the promotion hasn't officially secured a location but that a city on the West Coast is emerging as the likely candidate.

In a response to a fake Helwani Twitter account, UFC President Dana White said he plans to announce the full UFC 249 card as well Monday:

UFC postponed three shows due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the company's UFC Fight Night event in Brasília, Brazil, on March 14 was also contested without any fans present.

While UFC 249 remains on the schedule, the New York State Athletic Commission refused to sanction the pay-per-view at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. 

According to Helwani, UFC could utilize the UFC 249 venue for subsequent cards to eliminate the current logistical problems caused by the pandemic. Helwani added that UFC has looked into staging fights on tribal lands, which would allow for circumventing any state regulatory commissions.

The location for UFC 249 isn't the only thing up in the air, though.

Khabib Nurmagomedov announced he was pulling out of his lightweight championship encounter with Tony Ferguson, and TSN's Aaron Bronsteter reported Islam Makhachev is out as well. Makhachev was supposed to fight Alexander Hernandez.

Helwani reported UFC is looking to have Ferguson headline the PPV alongside Justin Gaethje.