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The UFC lightweight title unification bout between
Khabib
Nurmagomedov and Justin
Gaethje appears to have a date.
UFC president Dana White announced to
CNN that the highly-anticipated clash will take place on Oct.
24. A venue and location for the bout were not revealed.
Nurmagomedov vs. Gaethje was supposed to have been booked for
September, but plans changed when the reigning 155-pound champion’s
father died earlier this month due to complications from
COVID-19.
“It’s been very rough on him,” White told CNN. “His father was a
hero to him, he loved his father, they had a very close
relationship and it was very hard on him.”
Nurmagomedov hasn’t competed since September, when he defended his
belt with a third-round submission of Dustin
Poirier at UFC 242. The American Kickboxing Academy standout
owns a 28-0 career mark that includes 12 triumphs under the UFC
banner.
Gaethje claimed the interim lightweight crown with a fifth-round
TKO of Tony
Ferguson at UFC 249 on May 9. The former World Series of
Fighting champion has won four straight in UFC competition — all by
knockout or technical knockout.
“It’s going to happen, tell you right here right now. That fight is
going to happen,” White said. Khabib vs. Gaethje, Oct. 24.