The UFC 165 card in Toronto, Ontario, Canada is getting another boost to their lineup with the addition of key lightweight battle. Former Strikeforce star Pat Healy and Khabib Nurmagomedov have verbally agreed to step into the Octagon in a fight that has serious implications on the tough lightweight division.
Healy was a stud during his time in Strikeforce, going 7-1 with his lone loss in that promotion coming via submission to Josh Thomson. When his contract was absorbed by the UFC, he made his return to the promotion after nearly seven years and fought a tough opponent in Jim Miller. On fight night, Healy won via technical submission with the Rear Naked Choke, but a failed drug test for marijuana turned the ruling into a no contest and Healy was stripped of bonus money and suspended for 90 days.
Nurmagomedov has had a steady career going 20-0 including 4-0 inside the Octagon. Many fans felt that he lost to Gleison Tibau at UFC 148, but the unanimous decision ruling went in his favor and he has since knocked out Thiago Tavares and earned a decision win against Abel Trujillo.
For both fighters, a win here would propel them up in the rankings of the lightweight division and while an automatic title shot might not be in their immediate future, each fighter has the talent to make a dent in the rankings.
UFC 165 is headlined by the UFC light heavyweight title fight between Jon “Bones” Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson and the interim UFC bantamweight title fight between Renan Barao vs. Eddie Wineland.
