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The UFC plans to hold the blockbuster Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje match on its mystery private island this summer

May 13, 2020, 15:15 IST
Insider
Justin Gaethje and Khabib Nurmagomedov.Photos by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images and Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
  • Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje could happen on "Fight Island."
  • That's according to the UFC president Dana White who said this week that the UFC lightweight championship match will take place "this summer."
  • Gaethje shook up the MMA world by thrashing Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 on Saturday, winning the interim lightweight title.
  • Conor McGregor tried to muscle his way into the championship picture on Monday, but White clarified the situation by appearing to say Gaethje and Nurmagomedov would fight first.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
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The UFC plans to hold the blockbuster Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje match on its mystery private island "this summer," the MMA firm's president Dana White told ESPN on Tuesday.

Gaethje shook up the combat sport landscape with a thumping fifth round stoppage victory over Tony Ferguson at the UFC's behind-closed-doors event, UFC 249, in Jacksonville, Florida, last weekend.

It was the first major sports event of the COVID-19 era, bringing to an end a two-month, coronavirus-enforced hiatus which the UFC had been subject to.

To circumvent travel restrictions imposed by the spread of the virus, White has been talking-up a private island he has leased which he can shuffle international athletes to and hold fights.

His marquee fighter Conor McGregor has been one of a number of fighters texting him frantically about wanting to take part, and the Irishman even tried to muscle his way into the UFC lightweight title picture by challenging Gaethje to ignore Nurmagomedov and fight him instead.

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Clarifying the situation to ESPN, White said fans could see Nurmagomedov and Gaethje fight for the Russian's UFC lightweight championship in the coming months — and it could take place on "Fight Island."

"I expect [Nurmagomedov vs. Gaethje] to happen this summer," White said. "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 had previously said that various facilities like hotels, gyms, and a battleground at "Fight Island" are under construction and that the place wouldn't be operational until mid-June.

This makes it one month behind schedule as he had said earlier in the year that he hoped "Fight Island" would be ready to host fights in May.

Read more:

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Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje plot a high-stakes UFC championship unification, freezing out Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor texted the UFC boss Dana White saying he's desperate to fight on 'Fight Island'

Behind-the-scenes at UFC 249, the world's first major sports event in a COVID-19 era held in a spookily-empty 15,000 seater arena

The trash-talking, earth-scorching Conor McGregor returned on Monday, igniting 5 wild rivalries on Twitter

An American striker produced the MMA win of the year by torturing Tony Ferguson, stopping him in the 5th round at UFC 249

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Dominick Cruz is apoplectic over UFC 249 stoppage loss and said the referee smelled of 'alcohol and cigarettes'

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