Mixed Martial Arts: Nurmagomedov can be greatest of all time, says UFC's White

FILE PHOTO: Russian mixed martial arts fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov attends a meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Makhachkala, Russia September 12, 2019. Sputnik/Alexei Nikolsky/Kremlin via REUTERS

(Reuters) - UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov can take a step closer to becoming the greatest of all time (GOAT) in his class if he beats Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, the mixed martial arts promotion's chief Dana White has said.

Russian Nurmagomedov will put his belt and a 28-0 win-loss record on the line on Saturday when he faces American interim champion Gaethje in a unification bout at Abu Dhabi's Yas Island.