Dana White expecting Nurmagomedov vs. Gaethje this summer on fight island
It appears this summer the UFC will have a huge blockbuster fight on Fight Island between lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and newly crowned interim champion Justin Gaethje. UFC president Dana White made the announcement today on ESPN 1000 Chicago.
“I don’t know if it will be the first one, but it will be on Fight Island, unless miraculously the world comes back together faster than I think it’s gonna,” White told ESPN 1000 Chicago.
Gaethje (22-2) won the interim title on Saturday at UFC 249 by stopping Tony Ferguson in the fifth-round. Gaethje is currently riding a four fight winning streaking.
Nurmagomedov (28-0) is currently observing the holy month of Ramadan, which will end on May 23. He will need some time to train properly for the fight following the conclusion of Ramadan.
Last night, Conor McGregor tried to insert his name into the lightweight title picture. In a series of tweets McGregor called out Gaethje by demanding a fight this summer. White said he is aware of McGregor’s comments, but he did not say if that would affect the current plans.
Justin, there is no danger in a man that hugs legs, we all know. Try and dance around what the real threat is here all you want.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 11, 2020
I am going to fucking butcher you.
Your teeth. I’m going to put them on a fucking necklace.
Speak on my skills as a father?
You are fucking dead.
“Any time Conor McGregor is fighting, it’s exciting, but yeah, I’m very excited for Gaethje versus Khabib,” White said. “I think stylistically it’s a great matchup. I’m looking forward to it.”
White also updated the current status of Fight Island, which he is expecting to be up and running soon.
“Hopefully it will be done by mid-June, and I could put on a fight that weekend that it’s done or end of June,” he said.
