Khabib Nurmagomedov
A lightweight bout was announced for this summers UFC 148 show in Las Vegas between undefeated Russian fighter ‘The Eagle’ Khabib Nurmagomedov (17-0) and Brazilian Gleison Tibau (25-7).
Officials made the announcement on Thursday at UFC.com.
The locker rooms at UFC 148 will be even more like a model UN than previously expected, with the announcement of a lightweight bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Gleison Tibau.
The Russian-born Nurmagomedov is undefeated and has never had a fight last fifteen minutes; Brazilian-born Tibau is an American Top Team standout. Both men now train on the East Coast and possess black belts; Numagomedov’s in judo and Tibau’s in BJJ.
UFC 148 is expected to take place on July 7, 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Nurmagomedov debuted with the UFC this past January at the UFC on FX 1 card, staying undefeated by stopping Kamal Shalorus by third round submission. It was ‘The Eagle’s’ first match outside of the former Soviet Union, who had earned seven wins in 2011. Nurmagomedov has finished thirteen of his past seventeen opponents.
Tibau has won three straight and is 5-1 in his last six Octagon appearances. His last fight took place in November at UFC 139 where he earned a split decision win against Rafael dos Anjos. Previous to that, Tibau submitted Rafaello Oliveira at UFC 130 and won a split decision against Kurt Pellegrino at UFC 128.