The MMA world has been patiently waiting for official confirmation from the UFC that Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dustin Poirier will fight at UFC 242, to unify the UFC lightweight title.

After confirming that UFC 242 would take place in Abu Dhabi on September 7th and then news that Khabib’s teammates Abubakar Nurmagomedov and Zubaira Tukhugov, both had their twelve month suspensions reduced by 35 days, it looked like it was a formality that Khabib vs Poirier would be confirmed imminently.

However, Khabib’s dad Abdulmanap has now thrown a little bit of doubt to proceedings by saying that his son is currently training for Poirier, Tony Ferguson and Conor McGregor. As he told Sports.ru (as translated by Bloody Elbow).

”There are three opponents in development. There is Ferguson, a rematch with Conor and Dustin Poirier. Khabib is preparing for any of them.”

Although this may cause a little bit of doubt, it is still expected that Poirier will be standing the other side of the Octagon come September 7th. By beating Max Holloway for the UFC interim lightweight title at UFC 236, ‘The Diamond’ earned his shot at Khabib.

As well as this, Ferguson has a tough test ahead of him this weekend, against ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone at UFC 238 and Conor McGregor currently has his hand in a cast and is yet to negotiate a new deal with UFC president, Dana White.

Certainly Abdulmanap believes that Poirier should face his son at UFC 242.

“But for me it would be logical to fight with Dustin Poirier, and let McGregor fight someone else.” 

Yesterday, Khabib’s coach Javier Mendez confirmed that Khabib has already started his training camp for UFC 242.

Who do you want to see Khabib face at UFC 242?

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