Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and interim titleholder Dustin Poirier is now official for UFC 242.
The promotion announced the fight two weeks after clearing a roadblock when the Nevada Athletic Commission reduced the suspensions of Abubakar Nurmagomedov and Zubaira Tukhugov. They are both Nurmagomedov teammates and took part in the brawl at UFC 229.
Welcome aboard Dastin Poirier.#ufc242 #ufcAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/rXW36L6Vy0
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) June 4, 2019
Nurmagomedov (27-0 MMA, 11-0 UFC) technically is still under a nine-month suspension for inciting the brawl last October following a submission win over Conor McGregor. His term ends July 6, well before UFC 242 on Sept. 7 in Abu Dhabi.
“That’s a big challenge to go over there”, Poirier (25-5 MMA, 17-4 UFC) said. “Nurmagomedov is probably one of the biggest Muslim stars, sports stars for sure. To go into enemy territory and fight their guy is going to be a huge challenge. But that’s what you sign up for.”