The lightweight division will move forward with 20 major battles in 2021 – with or without Khabib Nurmagomedov pictured.
UFC 257 will feature a highly anticipated rematch between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier during the main event, as well as the octagonal debut of former Bellator champion Michael Chandler as he takes on Dan Hooker.
UFC President Dana White took part in a virtual fan Q&A on ESPN + on Tuesday and read questions about fans by Laura Sanko. One of the questions White asked was what is next for former interim champion Justin Gaethje.
“If everything goes right, it’s probably going to be (Charles) Oliveira,” White said.
White reiterated that the UFC had hoped, before pairing Chandler with Hooker, to discuss his promotional debut against Oliveira, but 155 in consecutive months was not on the map. ‘Do Bronx’ rides on an eight-fight winning streak, which includes 2020 wins over Kevin Lee in March and Tony Ferguson at UFC 256.
Gaethje won the intermediate lightweight title with a fifth round of Ferguson in the main event of UFC 249. ‘The Highlight’ faced Nurmagomedov for the undisputed title and was submitted in the second round at UFC 254 in what the unbeaten champion’s last battle.
Of course, all these plans could change if Nurmagomedov – who will meet with White in Abu Dhabi next week – decides to change his mind.