Ferguson-Nurmagomedov confirmed for UFC 223 in Brooklyn

UFC president Dana White confirmed another attempt at a Tony Ferguson bout with Khabib Nurmagomedov. The bitter foes have been booked to fight at UFC 223 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on April 7, White said Wednesday on the "Toucher and Rich" radio show.

White was not pressed on whether Conor McGregor will be stripped of the undisputed lightweight title and if the Ferguson-Nurmagomedov fight would be for the vacated belt or Ferguson's interim crown. MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani has since echoed White's revelation - sans the matchup's implications.

Ferguson and Nurmagomedov have been scheduled to fight on three previous occasions. Each has withdrawn due to injury once and their latest attempt - for UFC 209 in March 2017 - was thwarted on weigh-in day when Nurmagomedov was hospitalized after a weight cut.

Since then, Ferguson won an interim title fight against Kevin Lee via submission in October and Nurmagomedov ran through Edson Barboza at UFC 219 in December. They are currently ranked as No. 1 and No. 2 in the lightweight division.

White has hinted at having to strip McGregor of the division crown due to inactivity and touched on the subject again Wednesday.

"I said after the (Floyd) Mayweather fight whether this kid fights again after this type of a payday ... He just can't hold the division hostage for almost two years," White said.