White: Khabib-Gaethje title bout will happen on 'Fight Island'

UFC president Dana White continues to hype up "Fight Island." Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Dana White: Nurmagomedov-Gaethje title bout will happen on 'Fight Island' this summer

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 5/12/20

It appears former UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor may have to wait a little longer than hoped for his next title bout.

Less than 24 hours after McGregor called interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje out via a Twitter rant and teased a July return to the promotion, UFC boss Dana White hyped a title bout between Gaethje and undefeated champion Khabib Nurmagomedov during an appearance on the ESPN 1000 Chicago Kap & Company program.

Apparently, Dana White just told an ESPN radio affiliate in Chicago that Khabib vs. Justin will take place on Fight Island this summer "unless world gets back to normal sooner than we think." Tracking down the full audio/quotes, will update shortly.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) May 12, 2020

He was awesome! Please credit Kap and Co. on @ESPN1000 Thank you! https://t.co/t0SzQUGN4Q
— David Kaplan (@thekapman) May 12, 2020

While McGregor is notorious for attempting to book his fight schedules, Gaethje's manager hinted on Monday that the outspoken Irishman needs to fall in line before he receives an opportunity to sit atop the division because McGregor elected to fight Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone at the UFC 246 show in January:

Justin Gaethje's manager Ali Abdelaziz on Conor McGregor calling to fight Justin: "He had his chance for that, and he picked Cowboy [in January]. He picked the easier fight. The two kings of the division are going to fight in Khabib and Justin. Conor can be the co-main event."
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) May 11, 2020

Just last week, White insisted his fabled "Fight Island," a place where cards are safe from any government restrictions imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic, is real and will be used for international bouts "where people can fly in and out easily, without needing a bunch of visas and red tape."

From ESPN's Brett Okamoto, White told ESPN 1000 Chicago the island could be a host site by the end of June.

Gaethje earned the interim title by defeating Tony Ferguson in the main event of UFC 249, but he quickly discarded the belt during the post-fight interview.

"I want to wait for the real one," he told Joe Rogan inside the Octagon.

Gaethje may have his shot before the fall.

Nurmagomedov was originally scheduled to fight at UFC 249, but travel restrictions related to the pandemic kept him in Russia. The 31-year-old holds a perfect 28-0 professional record and is second in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings behind only Jon "Bones" Jones.

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