An interim lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson at UFC 209 on March 4 in Las Vegas has been finalized.
The UFC announced the fight via Twitter on Thursday night. The 155-pound bout will take place at the UFC 209 pay-per-view event at T-Mobile Arena.
We got a fight! @TeamKhabib & @TonyFergusonXT will meet at #UFC209 in Las Vegas for the interim LW title! https://t.co/kOnfPzkCKy pic.twitter.com/u594u8EWJ0
— UFC (@ufc) January 13, 2017
The UFC is looking to crown an interim lightweight champion because the division's official titleholder, Conor McGregor, is taking an extended break as he awaits the birth of his first child. McGregor has also demanded a meeting with the UFC's new ownership at WME-IMG.
With McGregor sidelined indefinitely, the bout between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson was obvious matchmaking. ESPN.com ranks Ferguson and Nurmagomedov as the Nos. 2 and 3 lightweights in the world, respectively.
Last month, UFC president Dana White told reporters in Las Vegas he made an effort to book the interim title fight, but negotiations with Ferguson had hit a dead end.
"Tony said he will not do that fight unless he makes the same exact money that Khabib makes," White said. "Khabib has a different deal. So, that ain't happening. Count that out."
Nurmagomedov eventually went so far as to offer Ferguson $200,000 of his own purse to make the fight, which Ferguson declined.
Ferguson's representatives were not immediately available for comment, though Ferguson alluded to the bout on social media this week.
Nurmagomedov (24-0) is coming off a one-sided submission victory over Michael Johnson at UFC 205 in November. Ferguson (22-3) is riding a nine-fight winning streak, including a decision win over former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos.
This is the third time the UFC has tried to book a matchup between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson. The two were supposed to fight in December 2015, but Nurmagomedov withdrew because of an injury. The bout was rescheduled in April 2016, however Ferguson was forced to pull out at the last minute because of an injury.
The winner will obviously have a strong case to fight McGregor, whenever he returns.
A welterweight championship fight between Tyron Woodley (16-3-1) and Stephen Thompson (13-3-1) will headline UFC 209.