Dana White Targeting May 9 for Huge UFC Card Featuring Ferguson vs Gaethje and Cejudo vs Cruz
By Scott Rogust
![Dana White reportedly has a blockbuster UFC card lined up for May 9 at a currently unannounced location Dana White reportedly has a blockbuster UFC card lined up for May 9 at a currently unannounced location](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/UFC-Fight-Night-Andrade-v-Zhang-0d64328823d94a055f71a81cef52553a.jpg)
UFC president Dana White plans to hold UFC 249 on a Native American reservation in California were dashed after Disney and ESPN executives persuaded him to postpone all fight cards until further notice due to COVID-19 fears. Not even a week after that announcement, however, White is already pushing for an event next month.
According to ESPN's Brett Okamoto, White is turning his focus to May 9 to hold the next UFC event at a location yet to be determined. The unconfirmed fight card is stacked, and aims to include a Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje showdown for the interim lightweight title, Henry Cejudo vs. Dominick Cruz for the bantamweight championship, and Amanda Nunes vs. Felicia Spencer for the women's featherweight belt.
BREAKING: UFC president Dana White says the company has turned its focus to hosting its next event on May 9 at a location TBD. He remains adamant the company will get back on schedule, and barring outside factors, intends to hold a card on May 9. **Targeted matchups** include ... pic.twitter.com/HBcqC8SmH7
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) April 14, 2020
Nothing is finalized, but the prospect of three title fights would be highly exciting stuff. While several of the bouts have been agreed upon -- such as Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone vs. Anthony "Showtime" Pettis -- other fighters are suire to be hesitant due to the very real coronavirus risk.
White declined to comment where the event is to be held, but the mythical "Fight Island" surely has to be on the table considering how much the UFC president promoted such a thing in the original run up to UFC 249.
(The issue, of course, is that no one knows where "Fight Island" is or if it's even a legitimate option. But leave it to Dana White to put logic and reason on hold in favor of bluster and fabulism.)
Here is the *targeted* card for May 9. Very fluid. Some have verbally agreed, others are hesitant and want more details. Fighters want to fight but these are crazy circumstances, obviously. But ... this is the card as of today, UFC is working on. pic.twitter.com/7s7OfwXOW9
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) April 15, 2020
Of course, one potential state that could hold the event is Florida, which recently deemed the WWE an "essential businesses," perhaps opening the door for fight cards. This is merely speculation at this point, however.
Mark those calendars for May 9 with some cautious optimism, MMA fans.