Nathaniel Wood to take on knockout star Muhammad Naimov at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi

The Londoner scored an unanimous points win over Andre Fili in the capital in July, making it three wins from three since moving up to the featherweight ranks.

Hoping to crash the 145lbs top 10 next year, Wood’s focus now shifts to Naimov.

The Tajikistan fighter is himself on a four-fight winning streak having most recently dispatched Jamie Mullarkey on his UFC debut in June with a devastating knockout in Las Vegas.

The two join the October card taking place on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, headlined by the lightweight title showdown between Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira.

Wood, a former Cage Warriors champion, is not currently ranked in the top 15 but hopes a blistering 2024 can propel him into contention, with hopes of winning the title in the next three years.

‘The goal is always to be UFC champion,’ Wood told Metro.co.uk in July.

‘The way I look at it now, I’ve probably got another three years in my prime.

‘I know everyone’s different but from what we usually see after 33 is when you start to maybe deteriorate a little bit and I’ve been in this game since I was 16.

‘I’ve got three years now to work my way up that ladder. I just need that ranking to start knocking my way through the top 10.’

Wood appeared set to take on former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling in a grappling match at the upcoming Polaris 25 event at the end of September.

But with Wood’s focus shifting back to his return to the Octagon, Sterling will now take on former UFC fighter Mike Grundy.

MORE : WWE and UFC complete $21,000,000,000 merger as new company TKO

MORE : Israel Adesanya gives limited reaction to stunning Sean Strickland defeat at UFC 293

For more stories like this, check our sport page.