ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 18: Khabib Nurmagomedov weighs in during the FOX UFC Saturday weigh-in at the Amway Center on April 18, 2014 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Khabib Nurmagomedov will get his wish to fight at FOX UFC Fight Night as he faces newcomer Darrell Horcher on April 16 in Tampa in a catchweight bout at 160 pounds.
UFC officials confirmed the new matchup to FOX Sports on Thursday.
Nurmagomedov was already scheduled to fight on the card, but his opponent Tony Ferguson fell out when a doctor discovered he had blood in his lungs and he was no longer allowed to compete.
Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone volunteered to take the fight, but ultimately that bout never came together and once again Nurmagomedov was left without an opponent.
The Dagestani born lightweight expressed his frustration when speaking to FOX Sports about his desire to fight after spending the last four months preparing to return to action after two years out due to injury.
"I don't fight for two years. I need to feel blood, I need to feel the cage, I am ready go," Nurmagomedov said. "My mind says 'hey, you have to fight next Saturday'. This is everything."
Now, Nurmagomedov will still get to fight next weekend.
Stepping in to face Nurmagomedov in Tampa will be UFC rookie Darrell Horcher, who comes into the fight with an impressive 12-1 record. But it will be a tall order facing Nurmagomedov in his debut.
Horcher has won his last five fights in a row with his last two victories coming by way of knockout. Now the Pennsylvania-based lightweight will get his shot in the UFC while facing arguably the toughest contender in the entire division.
The new four fight main card for FOX UFC Fight Night now looks like this:
MAIN EVENT: Rashad Evans vs. Glover Teixeira
Dan Henderson vs. Lyoto Machida
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Darrell Horcher
Tecia Torres vs. Rose Namajunas
The action all kicks off next Saturday night at 8pm ET on FOX.
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