Some Top Names React To Khabib Nurmagomedov Needing Opponent
See who could be fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov on April 16…
News broke late last night that once again Khabib Nurmagomedov’s return had been hindered by injury, but this time it was not his own. Tony Ferguson, originally scheduled to face ‘The Eagle’ on April 16’s UFC on FOX 19 card, withdrew from the bout with just 11 days notice. Nurmagomedov has been out of action for two years now, his last performance a dominant win over current lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos, and now the 22-0 Sambo master is looking for a replacement for ‘El Cucuy.’
We saw that Donald Cerrone threw his name in the mix, but with his own fight against Patrick Cote also at risk, it’s possible the UFC might look elsewhere. Luckily for the matchmakers, there’s been a number of fighters making themselves available for Nurmagomedov, but not all of them for April 16.
UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos claims he has unfinished business with ‘The Eagle,’ but his old foe wasn’t too co-operative when the Brazilian came knocking:
@RdosAnjosMMA I believe it was clear to everyone last time. Or “Fake champ” title still torturing you? pic.twitter.com/Xex1N5evba
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) 6 April 2016
That’s gonna sting.
So who else is in the mix for the top lightweight contender to face this month?
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Well, a former champion in two weights, BJ Penn is on the comeback trail, and has offered his services on short notice:
I’m told BJ Penn reached out to the UFC this evening to fight Nurmagomedov on short notice, as well.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) 6 April 2016
Penn had planned on returning as a featherweight, and was linked briefly to a fight with Nik Lentz, but is yet to receive a confirmed fight. He’s looked in great shape in recent Jackson’s MMA training photos, but is he really back to the form that could see him compete with a dominant wrestler like ‘The Eagle?’
We’ll keep you updated on this and more mixed martial arts happenings throughout the day, so stay tuned.
