The UFC has not yet formally announced that Khabib Nurmagomedov’s lightweight title defense against Dustin Poirier will headline the promotion’s Sept. 7 card in Abu Dhabi, but the champion’s team is about to begin preparations for the rumored bout.
Javier Mendez, Nurmagomedov’s coach at American Kickboxing Academy, recently announced on Instagram that he was “excited to start camp” for a “very tough challenge” in Poirier. UFC 242 will take place in Abu Dhabi as part of an agreement to hold an event in the United Emirates Capital for the next five years, with each event featuring a championship bout.