Khabib reiterates plan to face Ferguson in the fall: ‘If you started business, you need to finish it’

The lightweight contender told Russian media that he has no interest in facing any other fighter until he crosses paths with Tony Ferguson. 

Despite a lengthy absence from competition, Khabib Nurmagomedov remains a significant talking point in the lightweight discussion.

During a recent charity visit to the Scientific and Practical Center of Pediatric Psychoneurology in Moscow, the 155-pound contender was asked delve into his professional plans for the remainder of 2017. Khabib explained that he plans to being training camp shortly following the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

“Now I am being treated in a medical facility, going through rehabilitation,” Khabib told RT. “The exact date of the return is uncertain, but it will be in the fall. I will devote the summer to training, and will hold a fight in the fall."

While the Dagestani star has not signed a bout agreement for an upcoming fight, he remains set on rescheduling the cursed No. 1 contender bout between himself and Tony Ferguson. The UFC has attempted to set the intriguing clash on three separate occasions, dating back to 2015. The first fight fell through due to an injury suffered by Nurmagomedov, while the second was cancelled after Ferguson suffered an injury of his own in 2016. Their third booking fell through when Nurmagomedov was transported to hospital after falling ill during a weight cut ahead of UFC 209.

Yet despite fan resentment over three years’ worth of failed bookings, Khabib is simply not interested in any other fights in the organization.

"It will be a repeat of the battle, in which I could not attend before,” Khabib explained, referring to Ferguson. “No other contender interests me. If you started business, you need to finish it."