There have been few meetings between Justin Gaethje and Khabib Nurmagomedov in the build-up to UFC 254. But that will change this ...
He was supposed to headline UFC 249 in May but had to pull out due to the complications surrounding the COVID-19 lockdown. Gaethje stepped in at the last minute and claimed a superb win over Tony Ferguson. Now the two will face off at UFC 254 and here’s everything you need to know about it.
The main event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 24 and will be prime time for UK fight fans.
It is being held at the Flash Forum in Abu Dhabi, behind closed doors.
The early prelims will start at 3.15pm UK time, while the prelims will get under way at 5pm.
The six-strong main card will begin at around 7pm, culminating in Khabib vs Gaethje.
BT Sport will broadcast the show in the UK and full details on their TV coverage will follow.
The show will be live streamed on BT Sport’s website and app.
The early prelims will be shown on UFC’s Fight Pass for subscribers as normal.
In the US, all prelim bouts will be simulcast on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ in English and Spanish.
EE mobile customers can get a FREE three-month trial of BT Sport by texting SPORT to 150.
You can then cancel the trial at any time.
Full card is subject to change
Main card
Khabib Nurmagomedov (c) vs. Justin Gaethje (ic), Lightweight
Robert Whittaker vs. Jared Cannonier, Middleweight
Alexander Volkov vs. Walt Harris, Heavyweight
Islam Makhachev vs. Rafael dos Anjos, Lightweight
Magomed Ankalaev vs. Ion Cutelaba, Light Heavyweight
Stefan Struve vs. Tai Tuivasa, Heavyweight
Preliminary card
Jacob Malkoun vs. Phil Hawes, Middleweight
Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Sergey Morozov, Bantamweight
Cynthia Calvillo vs. Lauren Murphy Women’s Flyweight
Da Un Jung vs. Sam Alvey, Light Heavyweight
Liana Jojua vs. Miranda Maverick, Women’s Flyweight
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov, Welterweight
UFC 254: What has been said?
Justin Gaethje: “We’re not wrestling anymore. There’s gonna be a zone in front of me, it’s not very big.
“It’s gonna be a zone of death, and I have to represent death every time he enters this zone. That’s what I’m the best at, creating carnage. Creating car crashes.
“So my only goal when I step in there is to create as many car crashes as possible.
“Whether it be our bodies hitting, our heads hitting, our shoulders hitting, my fist hitting his head, his fist hitting my head, it doesn’t matter – I need to create car crashes because it’s the only way to beat this guy.”