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UFC: Dana White says Khabib will be back in ‘September or October’ to face winner of Ferguson vs Gaethje
- UFC president Dana White says lightweight champion Khabib will ‘100 per cent’ face the winner of Ferguson vs Gaethje
- White adds Khabib will be back in autumn after Ramadan practices
UFC president Dana White says lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will “100 per cent” defend his title against the winner of the postponed UFC 249 bout between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje. The reallocated UFC 249 card will happen in Jacksonville, Florida on May 10.
“The Ferguson vs Gaethje fight is one of the most violent fights you will see. I can guarantee that. This fight is going to be incredible,” White said to ESPN on Instagram Live.
Khabib, who was originally scheduled to fight Ferguson last weekend before it was postponed for coronavirus-related reasons, is stranded in his native Russia. The practising Muslim has also started fasting as is customary during the month of Ramadan – which ends on May 23.
“The winner will fight Khabib for the title. This is for the interim. 100 per cent [the winner will face Khabib after]. Khabib will be back in September or October.”
Khabib – whose father and coach Abdulmanap was on Sunday admitted to hospital for suspected pneumonia – has not fought since beating Dustin Poirier via third-round rear-naked choke in September last year.
His fight with Ferguson has been cancelled five times in the past, with White “starting to believe” the lightweight super-fight is “cursed”.
On Saturday, White told ESPN that his much-discussed “Fight Island” should be “up and running in June”, with plans for four events between May 9 and May 23.
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