UFC Confirms First FX Show for Nashville; Shalorus-Nurmagomedov Added

Kamal Shalorus

Unbeaten Russian lightweight will debut in January

The UFC said Thursday, for the first time publicly, that Nashville will be the location for its first event on FX. And in doing so, it announced the arrival of Russian newcomer Khabib Nurmagomedov, who will face Kamal Shalorus in a lightweight fight on the card.

The first UFC on FX show will take place Jan. 20, a Friday, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. The UFC last visited Music City in April 2009 for a Fight Night card on Spike TV at the same arena, but under its former Sommet Center name. In its new deal with Fox, the UFC will hold Fight Night cards on FX in a similar fashion to its current Spike and Versus shows.

Shalorus (7-1-2, 0-1 UFC) is coming off the first loss of his career, a third-round TKO against Jim Miller at UFC 128. That fight was his UFC debut after going 3-0-1 in the WEC before the merger of the two promotions.

Nurmagomedov (16-0) has won eight straight fights by stoppage, including seven in the first round. In 2011 alone, he has gone 7-0. The Russian has six submission wins and six TKOs. In a statement, UFC president Dana White said Nurmagomedov has made a verbal agreement for the fight with Shalorus.

Expected to headline the first UFC on FX show is a lightweight bout between Miller and Melvin Guillard, both of whom are looking to get back in the title picture after having lengthy winning streaks snapped. Miller lost to Ben Henderson in August, losing his seven-fight streak. And Guillard was submitted by Joe Lauzon last month, ending his five-fight run.