White gives fan opportunity to earn UFC contract

You can follow live text commentary of UFC 308 and Murphy's fight from 20:00 BST on Saturday on BBC Sport website & app

Dana White says he has offered a fan who asked if he could fight in the UFC at a news conference an opportunity to earn a contract in the promotion.

UFC president White was asked by the fan, who added he had won nine fights and is from Tajikistan, at the UFC 308 news conference in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

White then invited him up on stage before he was escorted away to speak to UFC officials.

The fan has been identified among MMA circles as Dorobshokh Nabotov, with MMA statistics website Sherdog saying he is unbeaten, winning eight fights.

"We're giving him an opportunity. He got up on the mic today he's getting an opportunity," said White.

White says Nabotov will feature on the 'Korean Zombie' Chan Sung Jung's promotion in South Korea on 14 December.

He has likened the event to opportunities he offers fighters on his reality show Dana White's Contender Series, where winners of bouts are often offered UFC contracts.

"I'll pay for the fight - we'll give this a guy a fight and see what happens.

"Train, let's get you an opponent and we'll see you in the show."