UFC boss Dana White reveals Khabib will fight Justin Gaethje for UFC lightweight title on October 24

Khabib Nurmagomedov will return to UFC action to fight Justin Gaethje on October 24, according to Dana White.

The UFC president has revealed that the lightweight champion, who had been rumoured to be retiring following the death of his father, Abdulmanap, will return to the Octagon to face the interim champion. 

White told CNN: ‘His father was a hero to him. He loved his father, they had a very close relationship and it was very hard on him. It’s been very rough on him.’

Khabib Nurmagomedov (right) has been mourning the loss of his revered father, Abdulmanap

The champion posted a training photo on Instagram with his cousins, Umar (right) and Usman

Revered Russian MMA coach Abdulmanap died in a Moscow hospital on July 3 after suffering from coronavirus complications.

Nurmagomedov broke his silence last week to pay tribute to the 57-year-old, who guided him to wins over the likes of Conor McGregor.

White did not reveal the location for Nurmagomedov’s first fight in more than a year, which had originally been scheduled for September.

Gaethje replaced Nurmagomedov and beat Tony Ferguson in the fifth round in May in Florida

He said: ‘It’s going to happen – [I can] tell you right here, right now. That fight is going to happen.’

Nurmagomedov was forced to cancel his fight with Tony Ferguson earlier this year after he was beset by transport and organisational problems as the pandemic worsened.

Gaethje replaced Nurmagomedov and beat Ferguson in May, earning the interim title.

His fight with Nurmagomedov could take place on the manmade Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, where UFC events have been taking place since July 11.

UFC boss Dana White says Nurmagomedov will have his first fight since beating Dustin Poirier