UFC News: Dana White Targets Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Justin Gaethje for September

UFC President Dana White is working on a date for lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s third title defense. White revealed to MMAJunkie after UFC Fight Night 171 that Nurmagomedov vs Justin Gaethje for the lightweight championship is being planned for September. White mentioned that the UFC was going to send bout agreements for both fighters to fight in July.

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В этом спорте и особенно в этом весе всегда будут голодные львы, которые будут тебе дышат в спину, если ты расслабишься то тебе конец. Одни уходят и другие приходят, тут нечему удивляться. Но я раньше выстрела не упаду. Мы ещё повоюем.

A post shared by Khabib Nurmagomedov (@khabib_nurmagomedov) on May 9, 2020 at 11:18pm PDT

“We were gonna send out bout agreements yesterday,” White said. “There were a couple of weird things that happened yesterday, so we didn’t end up getting it done apparently, but we’re talking about doing Gaethje vs. Khabib in September.”

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Staying home in quarantine and reading the reaction of people to the situation around my fight, it turns out that the whole world should be in quarantine, governments of all countries, famous people around the world urge people to follow all safety requirements in order to limit the spread of the disease, to save people, and Khabib is the only one relieved of all obligations and must demonstrate free will and train flying around the world, for the sake of fight? – I understand everything and I’m definitely upset more than you to cancel the fight, probably like all others, I had many plans after the fight, but I can’t control it all. The greatest countries and the largest companies of our time are shocked by what is happening, every day the situation changes unpredictably. But Khabib still has to fight, is that what you saying? – Take care of yourself and put yourself in my shoes. – 📍 Сижу дома на карантине и читаю реакцию людей на ситуацию вокруг моего боя, получается весь мир должен сидеть на карантине, правительства всех стран и известные люди всего мира призывают людей соблюдать требования безопасности, чтоб ограничить распространение болезни ради спасения людей, а Хабиб, освобождён от всех обязательств и должен демонстрировать свободу воли и тренироваться летая по всему миру рискуя своей жизнью ради боя ? – Я все понимаю и точно не меньше вас расстроен отменой боя, наверно у меня , как и у всех других, было много планов после боя, но я не в силах контролировать все это. Сверх державы и крупнейшие компании нашего времени в шоке от того, что происходит, каждый день ситуация меняется непредсказуемо. Но Хабиб все равно должен драться, так получается? – Берегите себя и поставьте себя на мое место.

A post shared by Khabib Nurmagomedov (@khabib_nurmagomedov) on Apr 1, 2020 at 12:02pm PDT

Nurmagomedov has had a rough start to 2020. He was scheduled to fight Tony Ferguson in their long-awaited matchup on April 18. However, the event was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Russian media Sports-Express reported yesterday that Nurmagomedov’s father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov was in a medically induced coma after having heart surgery. His father had been dealing with complications from pneumonia. The UFC, fighters, media members, and fans sent their good wishes for Abdulmanap recovery. MMA Junkie reports that Abdulmanap has woken up from his coma.

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Post fight shenanigans. Brought to you by @onxlabs

A post shared by Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@justin_gaethje) on May 13, 2020 at 8:32am PDT

Gaethje is coming off a win over Tony Ferguson for the interim lightweight championship at the rescheduled UFC 249 on May 9. He became the first fighter in UFC to beat Ferguson by TKO. Gaethje has finished all four of his last opponents. His win over Ferguson awarded Gaetheje his ninth performance of the night bonus in seven fights in the UFC.