Conor McGregor: Khabib Nurmagomedov makes surprising statement on 'Mac'
KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV isn’t thinking about a future fight with Conor McGregor.
Conor McGregor (R) and Khabib Nurmagomedov (L)
Nurmagomedov makes his long-awaited return to the Octagon later this month in the co-main event of UFC 219, which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
His opponent at the final pay-per-view card of the year will be the dangerous Edson Barboza, the man regarded by many to be the most devastating striker in the 155lbs division.
Victory over Barboza would put Nurmagomedov’s name back in the lightweight title picture and extended his unbeaten run to 25 fights.
It would also strengthen calls for him to fight McGregor, the division’s undisputed ruler.
Nurmagomedov is well aware of that fact but has his sights on a fight with interim 155lbs champion Tony Ferguson, a man he’s been scheduled to face three times.
Conor McGregor confronts Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 205
I don’t want to think about Conor McGregor
“I don’t want to think about Conor McGregor. He’s not like that fighter,” Nurmagomedov said during an appearance on UFC Tonight. “He’s a different fighter.
“Fans know that in the lightweight division the most important fight is me versus Tony Ferguson. But Conor can do whatever he wants. I don’t think about Conor.
Khabib Nurmagomedov feels like he has unfinished business with Tony Ferguson
“My focus is Edson Barboza on the third of December. And after this, I’m going to fight with Tony Ferguson in March or April. My focus is Edson Barboza on the third of December.
“And after this, I’m going to fight with Tony Ferguson in March or April.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov celebrates his UFC 205 victory over Michael Johnson
UFC 219 takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 30 and is headlined by a women’s featherweight title fight between champion Cris ‘Cyborg’ and former women’s bantamweight queen Holly Holm.