UFC 187 is in jeopardy of taking its second major hit in as many days with word that Khabib Nurmagomedov has suffered a knee injury in training.
Nurmagomedov is scheduled for a lightweight No. 1 contender fight with Donald Cerrone.
Nurmagomedov was scheduled to have his knee examined on Thursday morning which would determine whether he could fight on May 23.
Nurmagomedov (22-0), suffered a knee injury in training, coming off surgery for a torn ACL which has kept him out of action for more than one year. In that time, Rafael; dos Anjos, who Nurmagomedov defeated in his last fight via winning via a straight 30-27 score, had defeated Anthony Pettis to take the lightweight title.
MMAjunkie.com first reported the injury which was confirmed by a source close to the fighter.
The Nurmagomedov vs. Cerrone fight was expected to determine who dos Anjos would face in his first title defense.
UFC 187 is the company’s next pay-per-view, scheduled for May 23 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. It looked on paper to be one of the strongest shows in recent memory. But this news, coming on the heels of light heavyweight champion Jon Jones being suspended, could mean two of the top three scheduled bouts are gone in two days.
Cerrone (27-6, 1 no contest) was coming into the bout with a seven-fight winning streak, with his last loss being via decision to dos Anjos on Aug. 28, 2013, in Indianapolis.