July 26, 2020 / By mobanmarket
UFC president Dana White said during a radio interview Tuesday that UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje is likely heading to “Fight Island”.
In talking to Chicago’s ESPN 1000, White said that after Nurmagomedov is finished observing Ramadan (May 23rd), he will be ready to fight and they can begin to plan when the unification fight will be.
When it does happen, it appears set for the mysterious international island the UFC is fitting out to hold events featuring international fighters unable to fly to the U.S. due to pandemic related travel bans. That, of course, is assuming the current situation with travel remains in the upcoming months.
Gaethje earned the opportunity to face the undefeated Nurmagomedov by defeating Tony Ferguson by fifth round TKO Saturday at UFC 249 to earn the interim title. Nurmagomedov, originally slated to fight Ferguson but unable to travel, was last in action in September 2019 with a dominant victory over Dustin Poirier, the second defense of his title.
The UFC is back in action Wednesday night with the second of their three shows in Jacksonville, Florida this week. During the interview, White said the company will do 1100 COVID-19 tests for fighters, employees, commission members, and anyone involved with this week’s events.
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