Khabib Nurmagomedov planning fall return against Tony Ferguson

UFC lightweight #1 contender Khabib Nurmagomedov has been absent from the Octagon since his UFC 205 win over Michael Johnson, where he cemented his place as the lightweight #1 contender on the UFC’s official lightweight rankings.

Following the fight, Nurmagomedov was booked to fight #2 ranked lightweight Tony Ferguson in a highly anticipated interim lightweight title fight that would see the winner fight Conor McGregor for the undisputed title when the Irish superstar returned to the Octagon. Unfortunately for Nurmagomedov, he was taken to the emergency room the night before weigh-ins, and was ultimately pulled from the fight.

While Nurmagomedov’s teammate Luke Rockhold squashed rumors of the Dagestani fighter’s potential retirement, he also revealed that The Eagle would be returning to the Octagon sooner rather than later despite the medical issue prior to his fight with Ferguson, which was determined to be the result of Numragomedov not getting blood to his liver.

With that being said however, Nurmagomedov is currently observing Ramadan. In addition, The Eagle revealed that he’s being treated at a medical facility and going through rehabilitation, leaving many to wonder if he is still suffering from complications of his liver not receiving blood.

He spoke to RT:

“Now I am being treated in a medical facility, going through rehabilitation,” Khabib told RT. “The exact date of the return is uncertain, but it will be in the fall. I will devote the summer to training, and will hold a fight in the fall.”

“It will be a repeat of the battle, in which I could not attend before,” Khabib explained, referring to Ferguson. “No other contender interests me. If you started business, you need to finish it.”

So far no word from Tony Ferguson regarding his thoughts on the fight.

on 6/23/2017.