Top Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight No. 1 contender, Khabib Nurmagomedov, will attempt to win the interim 155-pound strap by defeating Tony Ferguson in the UFC 209 pay-per-view (PPV) co-main event.
Regrettably, he’ll be doing it without the services of his father.
That’s because Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov was denied a visa into the United States and will not be in attendance for the UFC 209 extravaganza, scheduled for this Saturday night (March 4, 2017) inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
From The MMA Hour:
"He has a little bit problem, they cancel his visa. I don't understand why, but they have a little bit problem about visa."
"Before my last fight with Michael Johnson, we tried to make visa. This is old news, but this now has become new news. When I fight in USA, when I sign in 2012 to fight in UFC, he never can come and support me because we have problem with visa. One time USA give him visa and he come when my brother fighting. When UFC give me fight with Darrel Horcher, one year ago and he tried to come to American and they cancelled his visa."
"I am fighting eighth time without my father. It's okay. He prayed for me, with me all the time with my heart. We talk with him everyday about my weight, my plan, my everything. My father is with me all the time, it's no problem."
Guess we can’t blame this one on Trump.
Nurmagomedov (24-0) has pretty much had his way with the lightweight division, compiling eight straight wins under the UFC banner with four finishes. Ferguson (22-3), meanwhile, captured nine in a row and stands at 12-1 inside the Octagon.
Anyone think his father’s absence will affect the outcome of the fight?
To see who else is fighting at UFC 209 click here.