UFC president Dana White announced Tuesday to CNN that lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will meet interim titleholder Justin Gaethje on Saturday, Oct. 24 at an undisclosed location.
"It’s going to happen," White said. "I tell you right here, right now. That fight’s going to happen: Khabib vs. Gaethje, October 24.”
Many wondered if Nurmagomedov would ever step back into the Octagon after his father and longtime coach, Abdulmanap, died earlier in July from issues related to COVID-19. Nurmagomedov hasn't spoken much since his father's death, which ramped speculation of possible retirement.
“It’s been very rough on him,” White said. “His father was a hero to him. He loved his father. They had a very, very close relationship, and it was very hard on him.”
Nurmagomedov (28-0) last fought at UFC 242 in September when he notched a third-round submission over Dustin Poirier. He had been slated to finally square off against Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 in April. But COVID-19 forced "The Eagle" to fly back to his native Dagestan to be with his family, and the fight got pulled for the fifth time.
Stepping in for Nurmagomedov at UFC 249 was Gaethje (22-2) on May 9. Gaethje dominated the action from start to finish and was able to put Ferguson away in the fifth round to capture the interim strap and became a UFC champion for the first time. A Nurmagomedov-Gaethje clash for the summer appeared to be on the docket, but the death of Nurmagomedov's father delayed those plans.
But now, according to White, the two will meet in October.