The fight of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and interim champion Justin Gaethje received a working date. UFC President Dana White told CNN on Tuesday that the fight will take place on October 24. The place of the meeting was not announced.
"This fight will take place," White told CNN during an interview. "Khabib vs. Gaethje, October 24th."
Nurmagomedov (28-0), 31, from Dagestan, last fought on September 7, stopping Dustin Poirier in the third round.
Since then, the coronavirus pandemic has brought much of the sports world to a standstill, and when the UFC returned to organizing fights, the Muslim Nurmagomedov still had Ramadan, which meant fasting and no hard training. Ramadan ended on May 23rd.
In the same month, Nurmagomedov's father, Abdulmanap, was hospitalized in Moscow. After heart surgery due to a pre-existing medical condition and subsequent complications from COVID-19, he died on July 3.
“It has been very difficult for Khabib lately,” White said. "We are all close to our parents, but his father was a hero to him. He loved his father. They had a very close relationship and it is very difficult for him now."
31-year-old Gajee (22-2) of Colorado earned his interim belt and chance for a full title fight with a fifth round TKO victory over Tony Ferguson on May 9.
