White: UFC targeting Khabib-Ferguson for April

The UFC is aiming to have the lightweight title bout between champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson serve as the main event of an April 18 pay-per-view at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, UFC president Dana White told ESPN's Brett Okamoto.

Contracts have yet to be signed, but both sides have expressed interest in what is arguably the most anticipated fight of the year, pending further negotiations, sources told ESPN.

Nurmagomedov and Ferguson have previously been scheduled to face off on four separate occasions, but all four bouts were canceled after both fighters dropped out twice for varying reasons.

Nurmagomedov most recently defeated then-interim titleholder Dustin Poirier via third-round submission in September. The 155-pound king boasts a 28-0 record, while his potential opponent is riding a 12-fight winning streak inside the Octagon.

Ferguson, who's also previously owned the interim lightweight belt, is coming off a second-round TKO against Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone in June.