The MMA world is eagerly awaiting the recently announced match up between UFC lightweights Donald Cerrrone and Jim Miller. The two highly ranked fighters will meet on July 16 in Atlantic City, New Jersey at UFC Fight Night 45. The announcement was of course welcomed by fight fans but it also raised a very important question. What happens to Khabib Nurmagomedov?

Nurmagomedov has been on everyone’s mind lately, after defeating Rafael dos Anjos and extending his undefeated record to 22. So why didn’t he get a big fight against a top ranked lightweight? Well, because he will be out of commission for a month.

MMAJunkie spoke with some UFC officials that told them that a fight between Cerrone and Nurmagomedov was indeed in the works, but that Nurmagomedov declined the fight when the date was given to him, before even knowing who it was against.

According to his management team, MVC Sports Management, Nurmagomedov will not be able to fight during that time because of the month-long fasting period known as Ramadan. Nurmagomedov is a practicing Muslim and will take part in the annual event, in which he will not be able to consume food or liquid from dawn to sunset. This years Ramadan takes place from June 28 to July 28.

By Ryan Miller | Twitter