Dana White Says Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Tony Ferguson Is Happening At UFC 223

The news we’ve all been expecting has finally been made official: Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Tony Ferguson will take place at UFC 223 on April 7 at the Barclays Arena in Brooklyn.

BJ Penn first reported the bout was taking place last evening and the bout was officially confirmed this evening by UFC President Dana White on the Toucher and Rich radio show this morning.

Dana White on our show confirmed that Khabib vs. Ferguson is indeed on for UFC 223 in Brooklyn. #UFC

— Toucher and Rich (@Toucherandrich) January 17, 2018

Ferguson (23-3) and Nurmagomedov (25-0) have been booked to fight each other no fewer than four times under the UFC banner.

The first fight was supposed to take place in Dec. 2015, but it was cancelled following an injury to the Russian. An injury to Ferguson in April 2016 put a stop to the rescheduled fight, while their third scheduled bout at UFC 209 in Las Vegas, Nurmagomedov was hospitalised after experiencing alleged kidney failure while attempting to make weight just 48-hours ahead of the fight.

With the fourth date now set for April 7, MMA fans around the world will no doubt be crossing their fingers that the fight stays together and that we finally get to see two of the top 155-pound fighters in the world do battle. The only unknown at this point is what will happen to Conor McGregor.

The Irishman is the current UFC lightweight champion, but his reign at the top of the pile could quickly come to an end if the UFC see fit. Speaking this past weekend, White stated that McGregor could ‘Absolutely’ be stripped of his title if he didn’t fight until Sept, which was his supposed preferred return date. With that now almost certain, it appears that McGregor will be stripped of his second title.

Stay tuned for further updates.