The UFC have confirmed that undefeated lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will return to the Octagon to face Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 in September in Abu Dhabi.
Nurmagomedov successfully defended his lightweight strap against former champion Conor McGregor last year but received a nine month suspension and a $500,000 fine from the Nevada State Athletic Commission for his part in a post-fight melee.
He returns to the cage against Dustin Poirier who is riding a five fight winning streak since his last loss to Michael Johnson in 2016.
It’s signed! (C) @TeamKhabib vs (IC) @DustinPoirier is official for #UFC242!
Get your tickets & join us #InAbuDhabi ➡️ https://t.co/d7ivYbEf6S ⬅️ pic.twitter.com/zEhhFtnaUP
— UFC (@ufc) June 4, 2019
Nurmagomedov’s agent Ali Abdelaziz told ESPN last month that the Dagestani fighter would like to fight three times this year and that he’s angling for a fight with former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre if the UFC can come to an agreement with the Canadian.
“He gave me very specific instructions,” Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz told ESPN. “He said he wants to fight Sept. 7 and again in December. And if Georges St-Pierre can figure things out with the UFC by April, that’s the deal. He would like that fight in April.”
