It's official: Khabib Nurmagomedov will fight Justin Gaethje on Oct. 24
The UFC fight fans expected for moths is finally happening. Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will take on interim champion Justin Gaethje on Oct. 24.
UFC president Dana White confirmed the news on CNN on Tuesday, saying, “That fight's going to happen.” White then said the two would fight Oct. 24 at UFC 255. White did not announce where the fight would be held.
It will be the 31-year-old Nurmagomedov’s first fight since September, when he defeated Dustin Poirier. The win pushed Nurmagomedov’s record to 28-0-0. Gaethje, 31, fought in May, beating Tony Ferguson in the fifth round. The win pushed Gaethje to 22-2-0 in UFC.
Khabib Nurmagomedov will fight for first time since father’s death
The fight will also mark Nurmagomedov’s fight time in the Octagon since his father, Abdulmanap, died. Abdulmanap, 57, died of coronavirus complications in July. White told CNN Abdulmanap’s death was “very hard on [Khabib].” Abdulmanap was also Khabib’s trainer.
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