UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was scheduled to defend the title against former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion Tony Ferguson in the main event of UFC 249, but would eventually be replaced by former WSOF Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje due to coronavirus travel restrictions in Nurmagomedov’s home country of Russia.
The event has since been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic and now Nurmagomedov is looking to defend his title in September.
Nurmagomedov revealed this information through Instagram:
Here is a translation of what Nurmagomedov wrote, provided by Google Translate:
“But September is not so far away, even though it’s hard to believe that everything will end by September, but still one serious person said that in peacetime it is necessary to prepare for war - How are your days going?”
It should be noted that Nurmagomedov also observes Ramadan, which runs from April 23 to May 23 this year, which also prevents him from defending the lightweight strap.
There is a “Fight Island” currently being built by the UFC, which should be up and running by the time Nurmagomedov is ready to defend the UFC Lightweight Championship again.
