UFC 223: Khabib Nurmagomedov Vs Al Iaquinta Is Your New Main Event

Finally, mercifully, UFC 223 has a new main event.

It was touch-and-go there for awhile, after New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) ruled Max Holloway unfit to compete. That means “Blessed” tortured himself to try to hit the 155-pound limit for nothing, which I suppose was a risk we all accepted when he replaced the injured Tony Ferguson on just six days notice.

Taking over headlining duties is the pay-per-view (PPV) showdown between Khabib Nurmagomedov and lightweight power puncher Al Iaquinta. They’ll get it done this Saturday night (April 7, 2018) inside Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

“The Eagle” is eligible to win the lightweight title; however, “Ragin’ Al” is not, as he weighed in at 155.2 earlier today (video) and championship bouts require fighters to be on weight or below the division limit.

Anthony Pettis and Paul Felder were both in the running to step up and fight Nurmagomedov when the Conor McGregor bus attack shook up the UFC 223 fight card, but “Showtime” wanted too much money and “The Irish Dragon” was not ranked high enough to meet imaginary standards set forth by NYSAC.

Felder and Pettis will be re-booked for future fights, but will reportedly be paid their purses for the massive inconvenience. The show must go on!

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 223 fight card on fight night (click here), starting with the FOX Sports 1-televised “Prelims” undercard matches at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET.

For much more on this weekend’s UFC 223 PPV card click here.