UFC 249 headlined by Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje to take place in Florida

The UFC are plotting to take their next pay-per-view event to Florida on 9 May, according to reports.

UFC 249, which was headlined by Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje, was cancelled after California state officials forced Disney and ESPN to stop the event.

Dana White repeatedly denied it was unsafe and irresponsible to hold an event during the coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed almost 40,000 lives in the US.

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MMA Fighting claim the UFC are targeting their return for 9 May and will stage the fight night in Florida.

The Sunshine State has more relaxed coronavirus guidelines and governor Ron DeSantis allowed the WWE to put on shows earlier this month.

DeSantis has also approved a list of essential businesses which includes MMA in an order this month.

‘Employees at a professional sports and media production with a national audience — including any athletes, entertainers, production team, executive team, media team and any others necessary to facilitate including services supporting such production’ are allowed to take place but ‘only if the location is closed to the general public.’

It is believed the actual location of UFC 249 will remain a secret and fighters will be flown into Jacksonville airport before being taken to the undisclosed venue.

The UFC are targeting a host of names for the fight night, but bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes has turned down the chance to compete.

The Brazilian confirmed she would not fight without the ability to train, while welterweight contender Lyman Good became the first UFC fighter to publicly reveal he had coronavirus.

Good was scheduled to take on Belal Muhammad at UFC 249, but withdrew after discovering he and his wife had contracted the virus.

While the UFC intend to push ahead with their return on 9 May, the MMA organisation announced events in Lincoln on 25 April and Oklahoma on 2 May had been cancelled.

There are several other potential match-ups on the card including Henry Cejudo vs Dominick Cruz, but many fights are yet to be finalised.

White was hoping to stage fights in May at UFC Apex in Las Vegas , but that state remains under lockdown.

MORE: Lyman Good revealed as first UFC fighter to test positive for coronavirus as more events cancelled

MORE: Conor McGregor laughs at Tony Ferguson after he weighed in for cancelled UFC 249 fight

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