Dana White Confirms Khabib Nurmagomedov's Next Fight And Date

Dana White has confirmed that the winner of the Tony Ferguson vs Justin Gaethje will fight Khabib Nurmagomedov for the UFC lightweight title.

Khabib vs Ferguson was nixed for a fifth time after the Russian had to pull it out due to being stuck in Russia and unable to get to the United States due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

UFC moved quickly to draft in Gaethje as a replacement and after being forced to postpone the UFC 249 event on April 18 Ferguson-Gaethje will main event the rearranged card on May 9th.

"The Ferguson vs. Gaethje fight is one of the most violent fights you will see," White told ESPN on an Instagram Live, via MMA Junkie.

"I can guarantee that. This fight is going to be incredible. The winner will fight Khabib for the title. This is for the interim. 100 percent (the winner fights Khabib)."

UFC 249 is scheduled to take place at the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida in two weeks time and the promotion are assembling quite the card for the behind closed doors show.

In addition to the rescheduling of Ferguson vs Gaethje, a bantamweight title fight between Henry Cejudo and Dominick Cruz and Francis Ngannou vs Jairzinho Rozenstruik in the heavyweight division are both taking place.

What's more, Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone will look to put his damaging defeat to Conor McGregor by returning to winnings ways against Anthony 'Showtime' Pettis in what promises to be a hugely exciting bout.

Check out the entire match card below:

Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje

Henry Cejudo vs. Dominick Cruz

Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik

Jeremy Stephens vs. Calvin Kattar

Donald Cerrone vs. Anthony Pettis

Greg Hardy vs. Yorgan de Castro

Aleksei Oleinik vs. Fabricio Werdum

Carla Esparza vs. Michelle Waterson

Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza vs. Uriah Hall

Vicente Luque vs. Niko Price

Charles Rosa vs. Bryce Mitchell

Ryan Spann vs Sam Alvey

White has confirmed that two further UFC cards will be held on 13th May and 16th May, with both events also set for the Vystar Arena.

"They want to fight. People are hitting us up and want to fight," White told ESPN.

"We're putting together three cards in a week. People who want to fight are going to get fights."