The Speed Bag: It's actually better this way for UFC on FOX 19's Khabib Nurmagomedov

After two long years away with injuries, Saturday brings to us the return of UFC lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Nurmagomedov (22-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) was supposed to fight Tony Ferguson (20-3 MMA, 10-1 UFC) until a bout of the ol’ blood and fluid on the lungs took Ferguson out of the UFC on FOX 19 main event at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla.

For once, it wasn’t a Nurmagomedov injury taking him out of a fight. He’s staying on the card against … wait for it … wait for it … Darrell Horcher (13-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC). It’s not quite what you’d expect for an opponent for the guy who is the No. 2-ranked fighter in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings, right?

But in the latest edition of The Speed Bag, Ben Fowlkes wonders if that maybe isn’t just the best thing for a promising lightweight who hasn’t been able to properly reach his potential thanks to the time he’s had to spend on the sidelines. It may not be the sexiest matchup we were hoping for, but for “The Eagle,” perhaps it’s better this way.

Check out the full video above.

And for more on UFC on FOX 19, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.