The UFC is targeting a matchup between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson for an April 16 UFC on Fox event.
Sources confirmed the news to MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani after Michael Johnson, who was expected to face Ferguson March 5 at UFC 197, withdrew from their affair for undisclosed reasons.
Nurmagomedov (22-0) has not competed since UFC on Fox 11 in April 2014. At that event, he defeated current UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos via unanimous decision. Overall, "The Eagle" is 6-0 in UFC action.
Ferguson (20-3), meanwhile, has been one of the most active – and successful – fighters in the UFC's 155-pound class of late.