The UFC president confirmed that the long-awaited fight will now take place on October 24, after a difficult year for the Russian fighter.
“It has been very hard for him,” White told CNN Sport’s Don Riddell. “His father was a hero to him, he loved his father, they had a very close relationship and it was very hard for him.”
‘The fight is going to happen’
There were rumors that reigning lightweight champion Nurmagomedov could withdraw from the sport after his father’s death, but his team had previously said he would return after a period of pain.
Although White did not disclose the location of the fight, he said he was confident it would continue this time after it was originally scheduled for September.
“It is going to happen, I am telling you here right now. That fight is going to happen,” he said.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, White organized a UFC bubble on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi to organize contests.
Nurmagomedov was also due to fight Tony Ferguson earlier this year, but the fight was suspended due to the pandemic.
The Russian has been ready to fight Ferguson five times since December 2015, but the fight has never happened due to injury or illness.
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