“The Eagle” is back.
Khabib Nurmagomedov will return to the Octagon after two knee surgeries and more than a year out to meet Tony Ferguson at The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale on Dec. 11 in Las Vegas, UFC officials confirmed Friday. The fight will not be the co-main event of the card, per UFC vice president of public relations Dave Sholler. The bout order is to be determined, Sholler said.
The Los Angeles Daily News was the first to report the news.
The undefeated Nurmagomedov (22-0) was supposed to come back against Donald Cerrone at UFC 187 in May, but had a setback with his knee and needed another surgery. He has not fought since beating current lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos at UFC on FOX 11 on April 19, 2014. Nurmagomedov, 26, has won all six of his UFC fights in dominant fashion. The Dagestan native is likely to earn a title shot with a win over Ferguson.
As for Ferguson (19-3), he’s on a heck of a run, too. The California native has won six in a row, the latest a dominant unanimous decision over Josh Thomson last month. Ferguson, 31, has just won loss in the UFC, to Michael Johnson in 2012. He is an alum of The Ultimate Fighter 13.
The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale will take place one day before the blockbuster UFC 194 in Las Vegas. No venue has been set. TUF 22 will begin airing Sept. 9 on FOX Sports 1 with Conor McGregor and Urijah Faber as coaches.