KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV sparked fears for UFC 242 after missing the landmark show’s main media day.

The undefeated lightweight king attended the media workouts on Wednesday and looked comfortable, speaking to fans and hitting the pads.

2 Khabib was absent on Thursday morning Credit: Getty - Contributor

But he did not show up to publicise the flagship Abu Dhabi showdown on Thursday morning, leaving fight fans worried about his weight cut.

The Dagestan icon should have no problem boiling down to the 155lbs limit in the scorching 47 degree heat.

But he infamously missed the weight in 2017 and was hospitalised in the build-up to his planned bout with Tony Ferguson.

Conor McGregor’s chief torturer still has around 24 hours to make the 11st maximum for his title defence against Dustin Poirier.

But his famous love of tiramisu dessert and his media no-show have sparked concern for the Middle East battle on Saturday night.

Khabib is expected to earn around £5m for helping the promotion break into the Middle Eastern market.

But a failed weigh-in would cost him his hard-earned strap on the scales, before a punch is thrown.

The no-nonsense ace said: "A lot of people ask me why I'm here, but they don't understand what's inside me, this is about fire.

"All my life I have competed with someone and I want to keep doing that.

2 Poirier, 30, hasn't lost in almost three years going into UFC 242 Credit: Getty - Contributor

Latest MMA News FIGHT NIGHT UFC 253 - Adesanya vs Costa: UK start time, stream FREE, TV channel, fight card FIGHTING TALK Covington hits back at ‘woke mob’ who lashed out over LeBron James criticism MAC'S BACK Conor McGregor vs Manny Pacquiao to take place in December or January says rep CON'S BACK Conor McGregor makes shock claim he's 'boxing Manny Pacquiao in Middle East' BOX OF TRICKS Conor McGregor vs Manny Pacquiao: How UFC legend compares to boxing icon RANT 'N PECK See Adesanya's hilarious chicken taunt as UFC 253 weigh-in vs Costa turns ugly RAEL DEAL Israel Adesanya and Dominick Reyes ODDS-ON to get business done at UFC 253 MIND GAMES Khabib reveals he trains to battle depression as he prepares for Gaethje fight

"I have a big, big fire inside and I want to be the best fighter in the world, not the best fighter from my country, but the best of seven billion people.

"Everywhere I go a lot of people come and take pictures and talk, it's a bit of pressure. Most of the time I don't like it, I don't train to be really famous, I train for fights with the best fighters in the world."

Watch Khabib v Poirier exclusively live on BT Sport Box Office, Saturday 7 September. For more information on how to buy the fight, go to www.bt.com/btsportboxoffice.