Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Dustin Poirier set for UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi
KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV will make his return to the Octagon this September.
Nurmagomedov hasn’t set foot inside the cage since his UFC 229 victory over Conor McGregor, which saw him successfully defend his lightweight title.
His time on the sidelines, of course, has been down to the nine-month suspension he received for his part in the post-fight brawl which marred the UFC’s biggest pay-per-view event of all time.
Nurmagomedov is eligible to return to action from July 6 onwards but opted against returning then due to Ramadan, which finished early on Tuesday morning.
The undefeated Russian will, however, defend his lightweight crown against interim 155lb titleholder Dustin Poirier at UFC 242, which takes place in Abu Dhabi on September 7.
UFC president Dana White announced the bout during an appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter on Tuesday afternoon.
Poirier earned himself a shot at the undisputed lightweight title last April at UFC 236, defeating reigning featherweight champion Max Holloway to claim the interim lightweight strap.
The Louisiana native has won his last five out of his last six, with four of those victories coming over three former UFC champions and Holloway.
Nurmagomedov has been impressed by ‘The Diamond’s’ recent form, saying: "Dustin has impressed me.
Dustin has impressed me
"I think he has very good boxing, much better than before. Every fight he becomes stronger, better in boxing on his feet.
"I think he deserves a title shot. He already interim UFC lightweight champion, I am real lightweight champion. We have to fight."
Injury has prevented Nurmagomedov from being very active the last six years, though he’s planning for a busy few months.
In May, his manager Ali Abdelaziz told ESPN: "He gave me very specific instructions. He said he wants to fight Sept. 7 and again in December.
“And if [former welterweight champion] Georges St-Pierre can figure things out with the UFC by April, that's the deal. He would like that fight in April."
The UFC’s trip to Abu Dhabi will be their first in over five years.
Mixed martial arts’ premier promotion last visited the capital of the United Arab Emirates in April 2015.
Their first visit took place nearly a decade ago and was headlined by a middleweight title fight between further Hall of Famer Anderson Silva and Demian Maia.