The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has confirmed Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje will headline UFC 249 behind closed doors in Florida on May 9 in the first of three events in a week.  

It will be followed with two more cards on May 13 and May 16, although details of those cards were not released. 

The main event will feature a much-anticipated interim lightweight title fight between Ferguson and Gaethje, who were supposed to meet in Brooklyn, New York, on April 18. 

There will also be a match-up between current holder Henry Cejudo and former champ Dominick Cruz for the bantamweight belt. Only essential personnel will be in attendance. 

UFC President Dana White explained the decision and admitted challenges lying ahead, particularly in terms of ensuring the safety of those involved. He said  someone had to "take the first step." 

"At some point, we have to figure out how do we get things back to normal, but do it in a really safe way."  

The mixed martial arts organization has not staged a card since a March 14 event in Brazil, and a previous effort to hold the UFC 249 card was abandoned after the organization came under pressure from Walt Disney Co, owners of broadcast partner ESPN, to postpone the event as the COVID-19 pandemic swept around the world.

(With input from agencies)