Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White has shared the timeline for the unification bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje.
The defending lightweight champion hasn’t fought since his third-round submission win against Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 in September.
He was scheduled to meet Tony Ferguson in a highly-anticipated lightweight title fight last month but was forced out of the card due to travel restrictions in Russia.
With Khabib out of the picture, Gaethje signed the dotted line to face the streaking number one contender in the revamped UFC 249 in Jacksonville, Florida.
In what could be the biggest upset in the UFC to date, Gaethje punched his way to a convincing technical knockout win, dominating Ferguson in a five-round war with his striking masterclass.
The victory potentially closes the door for the Khabib vs Ferguson matchup and sets Gaethje up to a unification bout with the Russian, which will happen later this year.
Not Falling
Following his UFC 249 win, the 31-year old fighter confirmed he wants to fight Khabib next before he takes on Conor McGregor in a showdown in Ireland.
“Khabib is the best in the world. I’ve been working since I was four for challenges like this. And I’m happy to represent the United States of America versus Dagestan or Russia’s best.”
“He’s 28-0 and there’s no other challenge I want right now. I want to fight him. Then I’ll go to Ireland and do what I got to do.”
‘The Eagle’ has assured he will not suffer the same fate as Ferguson if he clashes with Gaethje, saying “In this sport, and especially in this weight there will always be hungry lions that will breathe in your back, if you relax, then you will end.”
“Some leave and others come, there is nothing to be surprised. But I won’t fall before the shot. We will still fight.”
Fight Island
On Tuesday, White revealed on ESPN 1000 the undisputed championship bout could be heading to Fight Island this summer.
“I expect [Nurmagomedov vs. Gaethje] to happen this summer,” the UFC president said.
“I don’t know if it will be the first one but it will be on ‘Fight Island’ unless miraculously the world comes back together faster than I think it’s gonna.”
White’s Fight Island is set to host live fights for international mixed martial artists who are affected by the travel ban due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“That’s why I’m telling all my guys not to worry because ‘Fight Island’ is gonna happen,” White said last month (via ESPN).
“All the infrastructure is being built right now and getting put in place. As we get closer to that, then I’ll start figuring out booking fights, getting guys ready.”
(Featured Image Source: Instagram/ Belt News and Khabib Nurmagomedov)