After more than a year away Khabib Nurmagomedov is targeting UFC 219 on December 30th as his return date. The opponent he has in mind is current interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson, whom he was supposed to face in March at UFC 209, but had to pull out due to weight cutting issues.

UFC president Dana White already stated that Ferguson’s next fight would be to unify the title against undisputed champion Conor McGregor. But this still leaves Khabib with another opponent option if he does intend to fight at the UFC’s year-end card.

During an Instagram live stream on Tuesday, lightweight contender Edson Barboza revealed that he had been offered to fight Khabib at UFC 219, which he says he already accepted.

“They offered me this fight and I accepted it,” Barboza said (via MMA Fighting). “I said I’ll be ready for December 30, and it’s on him now. We’ll see what he does. I saw an interview with him yesterday and he said he’ll fight me if Conor fights Ferguson, and Dana (White) already said that fight will happen, so I believe my next fight will be against Khabib."

“I definitely want to fight him. He's definitely one of the best and I respect him, I respect his team. He’s definitely one of the best 155 in the world. He’s the No. 2 and I’m the No. 3, and that’s the fight that makes sense for us."

Barboza adds that he is already completely healed from his shoulder injury, and is willing to go to Russia to fight Khabib in his home country.

“If they make this fight with Khabib in Russia? Of course. It's just the two of us in the Octagon,” Barboza said. “People can scream and threat outside the Octagon, but wherever it is, brother, I’ll fight him anywhere.”

"I'm in the best shape of my life. I'm more excited than ever. I'm just waiting for a phone call. I want to fight the best, someone closer to me. I'm ready. You have no idea. I feel 100 percent, and I'm ready for a big war, like always. Every time I step in the cage you guys see a big war, and next time is not gonna be different. I'm really ready for a war."

UFC 219 will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.