UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov’s coach, Javier Mendez, has revealed that Nurmagomedov has begun training camp for UFC Abu Dhabi where he will face UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier to unify the title.
The UFC has yet to announce the bout officially.
"Excited to start camp with the [Eagle Khabib Nurmagomedov] for Sept 7th [UFC] Abu Dhabi against a very tough challenge in Dustin Poirier. But at end of that night [Eagle] it will be and still [Eagle]." Mendez wrote on Instagram.
Nurmagomedov will be returning from a suspension he was handed down as a result of his involvement in a post-fight brawl with Conor McGregor’s team at UFC 229. After defeating McGregor, Nurmagomedov scaled the Octagon walls to confront McGregor’s teammate Dillion Danis who was cornering the Irish fighter. An all-out brawl ensued where Nurmagomedov’s teammates scaled the walls to enter the Octagon to assault McGregor who was recovering from his loss, FanSided reported.
UFC 242 takes place on September 7, 2019, in Abu Dhabi.
