Khabib Nurmagomedov Wants Interim Title Bout Upon Return

Lightweight top contender Khabib Nurmagomedov is currently out of action while he celebrates Ramadan.

However, when the fighter returns to action this fall, the Russian wouldn’t mind fighting for an interim lightweight title.

"Regarding health – I have nearly completed rehabilitation,” Nurmagomedov told To Fight. “I will start to train somewhere in the middle of June. The return is planned for October because I need four months of full training. As for the match, I think, that 90 percent I will fight for the interim title."

Upon his return, the fighter would also like to settle things with Tony Ferguson.

"Actually, right now the UFC lightweight division is one of the most competitive. In this case, there are many worthy men who will already fight for the title in the near future. Who I'm going to fight is not yet known, but of course I will insist on a fight with Tony Ferguson because now I do not see any other contenders and I do not want to fight with anyone, but to him,” said Nurmagomedov.

Nurmagomedov hasn’t competed inside the Octagon since he submitted Michael Johnson at UFC 205.

Ferguson and Nurmagomedov were set to clash at UFC 209, but Nurmagomedov pulled out of the fight due to injury.