How do you know it’s been way too long between UFC fights? How about when UFC president Dana White releases a show open six days ahead of the card?

On Saturday, “UFC 249: Ferguson vs. Gaethje” takes place at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. It will mark the first UFC card in 56 days – eight long, boredom-filled weeks in which all of our lives have been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

But, as promised, White has the UFC back up and running ahead of other major professional sports in the U.S. Some view the decisions as controversial, but White has ensured his staff will make public safety a primary focus for the closed-door event, which marks the first of three cards to be held at the venue in an eight-day span.

In the main event, former interim champ Tony Ferguson (25-3 MMA, 15-1 UFC) takes on performance bonus machine Justin Gaethje (21-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) in a fight that, on paper, seems certain to entertain.

The co-main event sees reigning bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) face former titleholder and all-time great Dominick Cruz (22-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC).

For MMA fans, May 9 can’t get here soon enough, and White was happy to give a little taste of what to expect ahead of the night’s pay-per-view broadcast. Check it out (via Twitter):

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