A timeline of every Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson fight

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson are slated to face each other in April, but we’ve heard this song and dance before.

Reports are coming out that, per UFC president Dana White, a UFC lightweight title fight between champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson is slated for an April UFC pay-per-view event (likely April 18) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.

But take a deep breath, and maybe don’t get your hopes up just yet.

This is not the first time we’ve heard of attempts to make this match-up happen; in fact, it’s the fifth. Once a year between 2015 and 2018, the UFC attempted to book a fight between these two unbeaten lightweight talents, only for things to fall through before they can make it to the Octagon.

Here’s a list of every time Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson was scheduled and ultimately canceled.

The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale: Dec. 11, 2015

Nurmagomedov and Ferguson were originally paired together to fight on the finale card for The Ultimate Fighter season coached by Conor McGregor and Urijah Faber. A little over a month before the bout, however, Nurmagomedov was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Edson Barboza. The period between late 2014 and early 2016 was not a kind one to Nurmagomedov, with injuries also preventing him from competing against Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at both UFC 178 and UFC 187. Nurmagomedov competed in April 2014 and did not compete again because of these injuries for two years.

UFC Tampa: April 16, 2016

Speaking of April 2016, the bout with Ferguson was scheduled for a UFC on Fox event that month at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. This time, however, it was Ferguson’s turn to pull out, as a lung issue forced him off this card 11 days prior. Nurmagomedov went on to face Darrell Horcher, who was making his UFC debut, easily defeating him by TKO in a 160-pound catchweight bout.

UFC 209: March 4, 2017

After Nurmagomedov and Ferguson’s names were elevated with wins over Michael Johnson and Rafael dos Anjos, respectively, and Conor McGregor entering the lightweight title situation, the pair was once again scheduled to fight. This time, the plan was for them to co-headline UFC 209, with the winner being named interim UFC lightweight champion. One day before the event, at the weigh-ins, however, Nurmagomedov was forced out after falling ill and being rushed to a hospital after a botched weight cut. Ferguson went on to win the interim lightweight title that October at UFC 216, defeating Kevin Lee.

UFC 223: April 7, 2018

The UFC tried their hand with this fight once more in 2018, with Ferguson now interim champion, and after Nurmagmedov dominated Edson Barboza at UFC 218. The plan was for then-world champion McGregor, who had been inactive from the Octagon since winning the title at UFC 205, to be stripped of the title upon the fight’s start, and the Ferguson vs. Nurmagomedov winner would be named the new, undisputed UFC lightweight champion.

But once again, this fight never came to fruition. A freak injury during a media obligation forced Ferguson off the card six days before. Yet, it was just the beginning — not even ending up as the centerpiece — of arguably the UFC’s most dramatic week from the Conor McGregor bus attack to Max Holloway falling off the card and a scramble for yet a new opponent for Nurmagmedov. But in the end, Nurmagomedov dominated Al Iaquinta to become the new champion and has held the UFC’s 155-pound title since.