It looks like UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will be limited to just a single bout this year. After Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC) was forced to withdraw from his planned UFC 249 title defense against Tony Ferguson originally set for April 18, the division is set to move on. The UFC has an interim 155-pound title bout between Ferguson (25-3 MMA, 15-1 UFC) and Justin Gaethje (21-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) lined up for the re-purposed UFC 249 event on May 9 in Jacksonville, Fla. That matchup is about as good as it gets on paper, but it’s not the highly anticipated clash between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson the MMA world has been clamoring for. All hope is not lost, though, as UFC president Dana White said the Ferguson-Gaethje winner will fight Nurmagomedov next.
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Dana White: Khabib to make fall return against Ferguson vs. Gaethje winner – MMA Junkie