It looks like there was something to earlier reports after all.

Those reports claimed that interim UFC lightweight title holder Tony Ferguson would be taking on Khabib Nurmagomedov inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY on April 7. This would be an undisputed title bout as Conor McGregor is set to be stripped of the lightweight gold.

Nurmagomedov’s manager denied that a bout agreement has been signed. Either the deal was done overnight, or things were being kept under wraps. UFC President Dana White appeared on CBS Boston’s Toucher and Rich where he confirmed the title bout is set for UFC 223.

Dana White on our show confirmed that Khabib vs. Ferguson is indeed on for UFC 223 in Brooklyn. #UFC

— Toucher and Rich (@Toucherandrich) January 17, 2018