The Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson fight has once again been cancelled due to injury.
Ferguson is forced out of the lightweight title fight with Nurmagomedov at UFC 223 on April 7 in Brooklyn , sources told MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani on Sunday afternoon.
The UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway will now take on Ferguson in what would be a lightweight title fight against Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov and Ferguson had been scheduled to fight three times previously, but for one reason or another, the bout has yet to still happen. This time was supposed to be for the undisputed lightweight title, with the expectation that current champion Conor McGregor would be stripped.
UFC president Dana White told ESPN that Ferguson tore his LCL and needs surgery.
“He actually tore it off the bone, he’s gonna need surgery on his knee,” White said.
White reiterated that Nurmagomedov vs. Holloway would be for the undisputed lightweight title.
In an Instagram post, Ferguson explained how he injured his knee in a freak “accident” on a studio set. Sources told MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani that Ferguson was on the Fox lot Friday in Los Angeles fulfilling UFC 223 media obligations when it happened.
White commented on this being still for the undisputed lightweight title and Conor’s McGregor’s status:
“As soon as these guys step in the ring and throw a punch, it’s on for the title,” White said. “Whoever wins, wins the title and we’ll see what happens with Conor over the next several months. I know he had expressed some interest in fighting in September.”