The news that Khabib Nurmagomedov has been forced to withdraw from the UFC 209 co-main event, a highly anticipated interim title fight with Tony Ferguson, is a big blow to the UFC and indeed to MMA fans everywhere.
After Ferguson successfully weighed in, news broke that Khabib had been taken to hospital in the early hours of the morning after complications to his weight cut, and we later received confirmation that the fight was off.
While it was a very frustrating thing to happen so close to the fight, the fighter's health is the most important thing and the show must not go on if he is unable to compete.
As a result of this news we have seen a wave of calls to remove weight-cutting from MMA across social media, as well as concerns for the lightweight division as it was hoped that Conor McGregor would fight the winner of this bout on his return to the octagon.
Interestingly, McGregor's comments after UFC 205, where he was called out by Nurmagomedov, are particularly relevant after this news as he claimed that he was uninterested over a potential fight due to the Russian's history with injuries.
He's fought once in eight years, he ain't fight too frequently for my liking. For me to commit to something like that, I need to see solid proof that people are going to show up and he's a consistent pull-out merchant.
I need to see active. I need to see activity. I need to see consistency. I need to see me. If you want me to come and change your life, if you want me to come and pick you, you better have some damn reasons for me to do that.
Mystic Mac strikes again?
It remains to be seen whether Khabib vs Ferguson will be rescheduled, or whether El Cucuy will be handed a title shot with McGregor if Nurmagomedov is not fit to compete for some time.
Until we learn more, we are awaiting McGregor's reaction to the news which will no doubt be coming soon.
