With Max Holloway ruled out of the UFC 223 main event, the UFC had a few other lightweight options to salvage Khabib Nurmagomedov ’s place on the card. After first turning to former champion Anthony Pettis (20-7 MMA, 7-6 UFC), then Paul Felder (15-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC), only to have both denied, the promotion now is targeting Al Iaquinta (13-3-1 MMA, 8-2 UFC) for a fight against Nurmagomedov, a person close to the event told MMAjunkie. The person requested anonymity because negotiations still are ongoing. Iaquinta currently is scheduled to open the main card against Felder. A potential Nurmagomedov fight with Iaquinta would only be for the lightweight title if Nurmagomedov wins, the pereson said
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No Pettis, no Felder, so UFC targeting Al Iaquinta vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 223 – MMA Junkie