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Khabib Nurmagomedov, Donald Cerrone agree to fight, then Nurmagomedov is injured

Khabib Nurmagomedov, Donald Cerrone agree to fight, then Nurmagomedov is injured

Donald Cerrone wanted Khabib Nurmagomedov, and he got him. At least for 20 minutes, he did.

UFC president Dana White told reporters in Dublin, Ireland, Friday that the company had reached a deal to pit the unbeaten Russian against the always exciting Cerrone, who stopped Jim Miller in the second round in Atlantic City, N.J., on Wednesday, against each other on the main card of UFC 178.

But 20 minutes after all parties agreed to the deal, White said, matchmaker Joe Silva got the terrible news: Nurmagomedov injured a knee and had to pull out of the fight.

That leaves Cerrone, who has been on a roll with four wins in succession. During that span, he has won a fight night bonus four times, getting Knockout of the Night, Submission of the Night and two Performance of the Night honors. He's earned $200,000, at $50,000 apiece, for those bonuses.

Cerrone is still likely to fight on UFC 178, but no opponent was announced.

White had no details of the extent of Nurmagomedov's injury. Trainer Javier Mendez of the American Kickboxing Academy did not know, either. He said the 20-0 Nurmagomedov normally spends the last month of camp with his team.