Khabib Nurmagomedov out of UFC 209... Johnson offer to be late replacement turned down by Ferguson

The much anticipated Lightweight match-up between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson in UFC 209 tomorrow night has been called off.

The Dagestan Combat Sambo fighter was hospitalised after falling ill trying to make the 155lb weight limit.

Several people had commented on how gaunt Nurmagomedov looked during the Media Day face-off on Thursday. Even Ferguson commented on it:

Have fun with that weight cut. You sucking air? You're conditioning sucks!

However on news of Khabib's withdrawal Ferguson struck on more conciliatory tone via a tweet:

I Hope U Feel Better Khabib, I Pray For Your Recovery, I Mean It, Get Better

https://twitter.com/TonyFergusonXT/status/837741693273157633

It is third time that the pair have been scheduled to fight only for the fight to be cancelled.

The cancelled fight leaves the UFC Lightweight division up in the air. Nurmagomedov and Ferguson were going to fight for the Interim UFC Lightweight Title. With current champion Conor McGregor slated to take time out for the birth of his first child and a potential boxing match-up with Floyd Mayweather.

In fact it was Conor who rubbished talk of a fight of himself and Nurmagomedov, calling Khabib a 'pull-out merchant,

Unfortunately for everyone looking forward to one of the most anticipated mma fights of the year, it looks like Mystic Mac was proven to be right.

BREAKING:

Apparently, Michael Johnson (the last man to defeat Tony Ferguson, before his 9 fight win streak) offered to step in as a last minute replacement. Ferguson declined stating that the UFC said that it wouldn't be for the title and would be for less money:

https://twitter.com/TonyFergusonXT/status/837793641523400704