Justin Gaethje's chance to unify the lightweight title against Khabib Nurmagomedov's could come sooner than expected, with a date on 'Fight Island' being discussed.
On Saturday Gaethje upset the odds to beat Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 and earn himself the interim title, making him the top contender for Khabib's own title.
That fight was expected to be some time off with the Russian still not able to get into the U.S but UFC president Dana White has claimed he will host international fights on a 'Fight Island,' and has revealed the lightweight match up could take place there.
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"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.
The company put on UFC 249 three weeks after the original April date, after finally being given the go ahead for it to take place in Florida, after several failed attempts to find a venue.
After the pay-per-view show at the weekend White is now putting on shows on Wednesday and Saturday in Jacksonville this week.
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Following that they're hoping to be able to move things to Nevada for their May 23rd event to take place at UFC Apex.
Speaking about 'Fight Island' White added, "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."
In typical fashion former lightweight champion Conor McGregor responded to last Saturday's results by calling out Khabib, Gaethje, Ferguson and fellow lightweight Dustin Poirier.
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White dismissed the Irishman's claims that Khabib vs Gaethje won't happen, saying, "Any time Conor McGregor is fighting, it's exciting, but yeah, I'm very excited for Gaethje versus Khabib, I think stylistically it's a great matchup. I'm looking forward to it."
Again the Notorious took to social media talking about the lightweight title fight but remaining coy on whether he meant his own fight or the one for Gaethje.
Khabib was originally supposed to be Ferguson's opponent for UFC 249's original April date but was grounded in Russia due to the current pandemic.
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The loss for El Cucuy means his chances of fighting for the title are very unlikely after his 12 fight winning streak came to an end and the chance UFC try to get his fight against Khabib on for a sixth time remain unlikely right now.
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