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Nurmagomedov was due to fight Tony Ferguson for the interim lightweight title in the co-main event of UFC 209 this past weekend.

However, the eagerly-anticipated fight between the pair was scrapped last Friday afternoon as Nurmagomedov was taken ill hours before the weigh-ins.

The cancellation of the bout was the third time Nurmagomedov and Ferguson have failed to do battle with one another.

The severity of Nurmagomedov's illness, which saw him suffer sharp pains in his liver, will more than likely keep him from competing for the next few months.

And UFC president Dana White admits it could be some time before we 'The Eagle' back in the cage.

“To be honest with you, Khabib fought (at UFC 205) in New York in November then here in this fight,” White said. “Two back-to-back weight cuts like that. I don’t know if he can make the weight or if he needs to get a better plan (or) dietician. Something.

“I don’t know (what he should do). He got within six pounds and was in really rough shape. He’s going to have to take some time to recover from this weight cut, and then I don’t know what to do.”

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If the UFC opt against quickly rebooking the eagerly-anticipated fight, Nurmagomedov, who will take part in Ramadan from May 26 to June 25, won't be back in action until the summer.

“He was having pains either where your kidneys are or your liver or something – I don’t know the exact specifics, but he was having pains,” White said.

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“He looked terrible. I don’t think there was any real damage done to it. When I say damage, I mean long term. It’s going to take him a little while to recover from this weight cut.”