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Khabib Nurmagomedov is out of UFC 209 after falling ill in weight cut

Khabib Nurmagomedov speaks during media day for UFC 205 on Nov. 9 in New York.
(Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
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Khabib Nurmagomedov failed to appear for his Friday morning weigh-in after earlier falling ill and requiring hospitalization, scrapping his anticipated interim UFC lightweight title fight against Tony Ferguson.

Russia’s No. 1-rated lightweight Nurmagomedov (24-0) was seeking to stop the nine-fight winning streak of Costa Mesa’s Ferguson (23-3) and boost his effort to land a shot at lightweight champion Conor McGregor, who is on hiatus awaiting the birth of his first child.

Instead, after a prior Nurmagomedov injury and a Ferguson illness scrapped two other prior meetings between the pair, the dominant Russian is out again.

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“UFC lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov was transported to Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center [in Las Vegas] Thursday evening due to weight management medical issues. He was treated and has been discharged,” the UFC said in a prepared statement.

“The scheduled interim lightweight championship bout between Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson at UFC 209 has been canceled on the doctor’s recommendation.”

Ferguson weighed in just under the 155-pound lightweight limit earlier Friday morning at 154.5 pounds. He was a minus-160 (less than 2/1) underdog against Nurmagomedov, who dominated his November fight in New York against Michael Johnson and was, for the first time, positioned to have his bout aired live on Russian television.

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The issue of weight cutting will certainly again be examined by the UFC following Nurmagomedov’s illness.

Although there were reports former lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez was willing to board a flight and fight Ferguson and former lightweight title challenger Nate Diaz is in town, neither option was pursued.

lance.pugmire@latimes.com

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@latimespugmire

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