Dan Hardy
Former UFC fighter

It makes the next two fights important for him. His goal was always for Khabib to get to 30-0.

I don't think it changes anything to his approach. If anything, it makes him more ferocious. Poirier got Khabib in a guillotine up against the fence and you could see his father right there. I can imagine Khabib thinking 'there's no way you're finishing this choke with my father in my corner'.

Now his father's going to be in his mind so much more. It'll make him far more adamant on beating the next two guys.

Speaking at the pre-fight press conference, Nurmagomedov said: "The most important thing for me is to stay close with your family and friends, because today you're champion, tomorrow everything can change.

"I'm so proud of these things because I think I was a good kid for my parents."

Asked about an animation paying tribute to his father and charting his journey from wrestling bears as a child, he added: "A lot of people have sent me the video. It's a great video - I really like it."

Sulaimon Adelekan: I feel a win for Khabib tonight makes him the number one G.O.A.T. with 29 wins and no lose. A win tonight isn't just for a G.O.A.T. status but for his father who he lost to coronavirus complications and he will get it.

American Jared Cannonier survives a knockdown in the third round to take former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker the distance.

But the Australian makes sure he stays the top-ranked contender for a chance to win the belt back as he claims an unanimous decision.

This will be Nurmagomedov's first fight since his father and coach Abdulmanap died in July, aged 57, following complications caused by coronavirus.

The picture below is from after his last fight, a win over Dustin Poirier last September, and the poignant moment where during his post-fight interview Khabib asked Abdulmanap to step forward and said “I want to say thank you for my father”.

Tonight his coach will be Javier Mendez, who was also in his corner for his win over Conor McGregor in October 2018, when his father was absent.

“I really wanted to fight with him in striking but Javier wouldn’t let me," Khabib has joked.

Mendez has added: "We didn’t want him getting into a stand-up, we went back to father’s plan."

That plan is to grind his opponents down with his ground-and-pound game. Khabib said this week that “nothing changes” for Gaethje.

Image source, Getty Images

Dan Hardy
Former UFC fighter

There are two fighters that have been discussed a lot. Tony Ferguson has got certain skills that are problematic for Khabib, he’s kind of like the opposing jigsaw piece. Where Khabib likes to push forward, Tony’s good at moving back and throwing swinging elbows and a lot of wild stuff that could cut Khabib and catch him off-guard. Khabib’s likes to be in the top position and Ferguson’s very good off the bottom. He’s had a lot of submissions off his back.

But I think this will be the toughest test yet for Khabib. I’ve been saying it since Justin Gaethje joined UFC, that stylistically the best version of a fighter to beat Khabib is someone like Gaethje, who can go head to head with that wrestling style. He’s got a fantastic high school and collegiate wrestling background. He’s a real grinding style of fighter anyway and I expect his conditioning to be on point.

If Gaethje is able to keep this fight on their feet, he’s got serious one-punch knockout power. And if there is a facet to Khabib’s game where he could be exposed, it’s his stand-up game. He’s not had to evolve it as quick as other fighters because he’s not needed it. He’s been able to put them on the floor and dominate them.

We need someone like Gaethje who can potentially stop those takedowns and force him into a striking exchange, where I feel Gaethje has the bigger calibre gun.

That's how the main event has also been billed, but that's not sat well with Gaethje.

When he was handed the interim belt after beating Tony Ferguson he threw it onto the canvas, saying “I’ll wait for the real one”.

Then when he was handed it for the photo opportunities at this week's pre-fight press conference, he grimaced before handing it back and pointing to Nurmagomedov's belt.

• UFC announce they will headline UFC 249 with long-awaited Nurmagomedov-Ferguson bout on 18 April
• The match-up is cancelled for a fifth time as Nurmagomedov couldn't travel due to coronavirus restrictions
• Justin Gaethje replaces Nurmagomedov in the main event, which is put back to 10 May and held behind-closed-doors in Florida
• Gaethje finishes Ferguson to halt his 12-fight win streak and become interim lightweight champion
• UFC president Dana White confirms in July that lightweight champion Nurmagomedov will face Gaethje in a unification bout at UFC 254 on 24 October

Justin Gaethje comes from three generations of copper miners in Arizona and went on to become an All-American wrestler at college.

After focusing on MMA, he became the lightweight champion in the World Series of Fighting before joining the UFC in 2017.

And despite losing two of his first three UFC fights, he's bounced back to win his next four, producing the best performance of his career to upset Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 in May.

That saw him become interim champion and earn a unification bout with Nurmagomedov.

“It’s the unwinnable fight, everybody thinks that, but there is always a way to be beaten,” his coach Trevor Wittman has said.

“I love being the underdog," Gaethje said this week. "I love people telling me that it’s impossible. A legacy is created when you can figure out the impossible, and that’s what I’m here for.”

Image source, Getty Images

Speaking at the pre-fight press conference, Justin Gaethje said: "I know Khabib’s ultimately confident in what he does, he’s done it 28 times, so I expect him to believe that’s going to happen.

“But he hasn't fought somebody that has wrestled or grappled as long as he has. That is me, I have.

“Everyone says they are ready, but I will not allow him to put me on the fence. If I do, I'm screwed. My game plan is if he wants to grapple, let's grapple in the middle.

“I cause damage. I'm going to kick his legs. That's where it'll start, then we'll move on from there.

“He’s got a lot of good things, everything’s unorthodox, at different times. Timing and space are the most important factors when you’re in a fight and I believe he’s world class in that regard.”

Dan Hardy
Former UFC fighter

He’s predominantly a wrestler who’s adapted his style to suit mixed martial arts. He uses the fence a lot of the time. He backs people up against the fence and uses it to force them into a position where they struggle to defend it.

He gets hold of their legs, rips them out from underneath them, puts them on the canvas. Then as soon as they hit the floor he starts tying their limbs up. He wraps their legs up with his legs and starts controlling their wrists up against the fence while at the same time hitting them as much as possible.

It’s a cycle he puts people in, where they either accept being on the floor or try to get back to their fight, and as they’re trying to get up he’s breaking them down and hitting them. Most times – either out of frustration or desperation – people start to turn and put their hands palm down on the floor and give their back, and that’s when he jumps on their back and starts to work chokes, as we saw against Poirier and McGregor.

The majority of his game is based ahead that. He’s got decent striking, but it’s not the strength of his game. It’s evolved over the years. He’s developed a good jab, which he’s been using recently and he’s got a couple of punches – a very unorthodox uppercut and an overhand right, which he cracked McGregor with.

But really it’s about controlling the octagon, taking them down against the fence and just wearing them out. He beats them up until they give him their back and then he sinks that choke in.

Sixth-ranked heavyweight Alexander Volkov has just beaten number eight Walt Harris by TKO in the second round.

The Russian rocked the American with a kick to his sternum before finishing him off next to the fence.

It's the co-main event up next.

That's how the UFC has billed the main event, with the grappling king Nurmagomedov still undefeated after 28 MMA fights and on the longest active UFC win streak of 12.

Gaethje, though, is renowned for his explosive striking ability, with all five of his UFC wins coming by way of knockout. He bounced back from successive defeats to win his last four and has compiled some highlight reel.

He's had more post-fight bonuses (for Performance or Fight of the Night) than UFC fights - nine from seven. That's why he's nicknamed 'The Highlight'.

The afternoon start time in the US has caught some off guard...

Khabib Nurmagomedov is currently ranked as the number two pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC, behind light heavyweight champion Jon 'Bones' Jones, who has a 26-1 record.

But if he wins this does he take top spot? And where would it put him in the GOAT debate?

Who do you see as the greatest of all time - Jones, Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva?

Let us know your thoughts, and predictions for the main event, by using #bbcufc on Twitter.

Image source, Getty Images

UFC president Dana White also said at the pre-fight press conference that Khabib Nurmagomedov will be close to becoming the greatest MMA fighter of all time if he wins tonight.

"Khabib's a big superstar. But if he beats Justin, he's on his way to GOAT status," said White.

"He's looking down the barrel of not only being the greatest to ever do it in this division but being the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

"It's pretty impressive what this guy has done. When people talk about Jon Jones and what he's accomplished in his career, look at how many fights this guy (Nurmagomedov) has had and he's still undefeated. And this is a nasty, nasty weight division."

Asked about achieving the same status as boxing greats Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson, Nurmagomedov said: "I don't know if I can ever become close to these people.

"I didn't have this goal; I just want to win every fight. We'll see in the future because I'm not finished yet. When I retire, I want to retire [as the] undisputed, undefeated UFC lightweight champion."

This one has even got MMA journalist Ariel Helwani's family and friends talking about the UFC...

Khabib Nurmagomedov is one of the most dominant athletes in world sport and having racked up a 28-0 record, he now stands on the brink of greatness.

He and his father and coach Abdulmanap, who sadly passed away in July following complications caused by coronavirus, have spoken about Khabib retiring as an unbeaten champion if he reaches 30-0.

“He's one of the biggest stars in all of sport, not just UFC," said UFC president Dana White at the pre-fight press conference.

"You have all the ingredients for a massive fight. You have a big superstar and a kid coming off an incredible win over a highly respected fighter, and people believe this guy (Gaethje) has the style to beat him.

"You think you know what these guys are going to do, but when they get in there anything is possible."

In a clash of UFC newcomers, American Phil Hawes has just made a statement of intent, knocking out Australia's Jacob Malkoun in just 18 seconds. One to look out for in the middleweight division.

From the airport, it's a five-mile drive to Yas Island and a 'Safe Zone' which visitors cannot leave, with checkpoints to prevent the public getting in. The zone includes the golf course, beach, hotels and restaurants, plus three medical facilities.

Over 2,500 UFC personnel and Yas Island employees have been staying within the zone, with all local staff having been in quarantine for 14 days and all visitors being tested before and after arrival.

Fighters have access to a private training facility and, come fight night, it's a short walk from the hotel to the venue - yet Nurmagomedov's just made his way to the Flash Forum as part of a three-SUV convoy.