Khabib Nurmagomedov's weight issues scrap UFC 209 bout with Tony Ferguson

Khabib Nurmagomedov's UFC interim lightweight title bout with Tony Ferguson was cancelled Friday after the Russian was hospitalised due to problems making weight.

One of the most anticipated bouts of the year was scrapped one day before UFC 209 at T-Mobile Arena.

Nurmagomedov was taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center on Thursday night, the mixed martial arts promotion said. He was treated and discharged, but the UFC still cancelled the fight on the recommendation of Nurmagomedov's doctors.

"It's obviously a huge blow," UFC President Dana White said.

The UFC hasn't decided whether to reschedule the bout, White added.

Nurmagomedov and Ferguson have been matched in two previous bouts that also were cancelled due to medical problems for both fighters. Nurmagomedov has won all eight of his UFC bouts, but the Dagestan-born Russian missed two full years of competition before April 2016 due to a persistent knee injury.

Michael Johnson, a lightweight contender who lost to Nurmagomedov last November, said he had tentatively agreed on Friday to replace Nurmagomedov against Ferguson. Johnson then announced on Twitter that Ferguson had turned down the replacement fight, which would have been a rematch of Johnson's decision victory over Ferguson in May 2012.

Ferguson considered a substitute opponent, but was informed the UFC wanted to cut his pay for the replacement bout, and it would not have been for an interim title.

Ferguson acknowledged that he barely made weight himself, and he empathised with Nurmagomedov.

Ferguson, who weighed in on Friday morning at 154 1/2 pounds, took the stage in front of fans at the official weigh-in, encouraging them to buy the pay-per-view show despite his absence.

"I thought it was a nightmare, man," Ferguson said of his reaction to the bout's cancellation. "Something worse than El Cucuy. It was just something that he had to go through. This happens in the fight game."

Ferguson, 33, has won nine straight fights since losing to Johnson, and this match-up was the biggest showcase of his career.

Ferguson alluded to Nurmagomedov's possible problems making weight during a face-off between the fighters at media day on Thursday.

The winner of the bout was likely to be among the top contenders for the next big-money fight with Conor McGregor, who won the regular UFC lightweight title last November with a victory over Eddie Alvarez.

McGregor hasn't announced when he will fight next, and he could also meet Nate Diaz or while there have been reports of a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

UFC 209 is headlined by Tyron Woodley's welterweight title rematch with Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson. The UFC promoted an undercard bout between straw-weights Amanda Cooper and Cynthia Calvillo onto the pay-per-view portion of the show.