Khabib Nurmagomedov injured and out of TUF 22 Finale

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 might get a shot at a UFC title -- if he could avoid injury long enough to actually compete again.

The Russian lightweight was expected to fight at "The Ultimate Fighter" 22 finale on December 11, but he's suffered an injury that will force him off the card and out of his fight against Tony Ferguson.

Sources confirmed the move to FOX Sports on Thursday night following an initial report from MMAFighting.

While knee injuries have plagued Nurmagomedov for the last two years, it appears a rib injury was the cause of his latest fight being cancelled and as of yet there's no timeline for his return.

Nurmagomedov hasn't fought since April 2014 when he defeated Rafael dos Anjos by unanimous decision before the Brazilian went on to win the lightweight championship. He has been scheduled three times since then to compete and has been forced out of every bout due to injury.

Nurmagomedov later confirmed a broken rib via his Instagram account while stating that this latest injury has him questioning whether or not he will ever come back to fighting.

With Nurmagomedov out, Ferguson is now expected to take on noted Muay Thai striker Edson Barboza, who is coming off an incredible 'Fight of the Night' performance against Paul Felder in July.

Barboza has gone 3-1 in his last four fights as he earned a spot in the top 10 of the division and he's expected to fill in and face Ferguson in a featured bout on "The Ultimate Fighter" finale.

UFC officials have yet to confirm the switch.