UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is set to put his title on the line against Tony Ferguson in April 2020.
On four separate occasions, injuries and botched weight cuts have scuppered plans for a bout between two of the most talented lightweights in mixed martial arts.
But the long-awaited showdown is now being targeted for 18 April in Brooklyn, New York, with ESPN first reporting talks are underway to make the fight happen.
Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz has since confirmed his fighter has signed his half of the contract, posting an image of the document on Twitter.
“Here we go,” Abdelaziz wrote on Twitter. “The champ signed his bout agreement against Tony Ferguson. This man has been asking for this a** whooping and now he has earned it April 18th the eagle with land in Brooklyn one more time. This one is for the fans.”
Nurmagomedov has made two successful defences of his lightweight crown, submitting Conor McGregor on a chaotic night in Las Vegas in September 2018 before dominating Dustin Poirier earlier this year. That win that extended his perfect professional record to 28-0 – 12 of those in UFC.
Ferguson is on a 12-fight winning streak, securing wins over Donald Cerrone, Anthony Pettis, Kevin Lee and Rafael dos Anjos in his last four.
