The much-anticipated fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje has been confirmed to hold on UFC 254 night on October 24. No location has been announced for the fight yet. This would be Khabib’s first fight since defending his lightweight title back in 2019. He would have faced Tony Ferguson in UFC 249 but pulled out after the fight was shifted twice due to the coronavirus.

Khabib has been going through an ordeal after losing his father, Abdulmanep Nurmagedov, early this month due to complications from the coronavirus, but he has already resumed training. President of the UFC, Dana White, was the one who confirmed the story to newsmen.

He said, “It’s going to happen, tell you right here right now. That fight is going to happen. Khabib vs. Gaethje, October 24.” White later went on to explain the delay in making the fight happen. The fixture was first slated for UFC 253 but had to be pushed due to the death of his father. White added, “It’s been very rough on him. His father was a hero to him, he loved his father, they had a very close relationship and it was very hard on him.”

Khabib has maintained a good record of 28-0, winning all his 12 UFC fights. He defeated Al Iaquinta before being awarded the lightweight title. He then went on to defend it first from Connor McGregor before successfully defending again against Dustin Poirer. Gaethje has a more recent victory after defeating Tony Ferguson back in May. He was the one who took the place of Khabib in the fixture with Ferguson after the Russian man stepped down.

Israel Adesanya would now have the title fight for UFC 253 as he fights Brazilian champion, Paulo Costa. Their fight would hold on September 19 in a yet-to-be-announced venue.

Written by: Leon Osamor