Conor McGregor and Tony Ferguson receive message from Khabib Nurmagomedov after UFC 219
KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV has sent a message to the two fighters at the summit of the UFC’s lightweight division.
Khabib Nurmagomedov looks on during the UFC 219 ceremonial weigh-ins
Nurmagomedov made his long-awaited return to the Octagon in the co-main event of UFC 219, which took place in Las Vegas in early hours of the morning.
The Dagestan native’s comeback fight saw him register a dominant unanimous decision victory over Brazilian Edson Barboza, who he battered with some vicious ground and pound.
Victory over the Barboza saw Nurmagomedov re-establish himself as one of the top contenders for the lightweight and interim lightweight titles.
I don’t think about these two b*****t guys
Conor McGregor and Tony Ferguson are the current holders of the belts, but Nuramgomedov isn’t thinking about fighting either man at this moment in time.
“I don’t think about these two b*****t guys,” Nurmagomedov told UFC commentator Joe Rogan in his post-fight interview. "I think about only me.”
Should the UFC offer him fights with both men, Nurmagomedov would favour a bout with Ferguson, a man he’s been slated to do battle with three times.
UFC's Khabib Nurmagomedov wrestles a BEAR
“Next fight? If the UFC tell me, ‘What do you want?’ I’m going to say Tony Ferguson,” he added.
“Because he has ten win streak in lightweight division. I’m undefeated all my career. Tony Ferguson.”
Nurmagomedov does foresee a fight with McGregor one day coming to fruition, but not at this moment in time.
“Conor, I don’t think so,” he said. “Because he has a lot of money and he has to spend this money. After this money is finished, I think he’s going to come back.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov would rather fight Tony Ferguson (L) than Conor McGregor (R)
Khabib Nurmagomedov put on a dominant performance against Edson Barboza
UFC 219 Results
Main card
Cris ‘Cyborg’ vs. Holly Holm (women’s featherweight title fight) - 'Cyborg' def. Holm via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Edson Barboza (lightweight bout) - Nurmagomedv def. Barboza via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-24)
Cynthia Calvillo vs. Carla Esparza (women’s strawweight bout) - Esparza def. Calvillo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Dan Hooker vs. Marc Diakiese (lightweight bout) - Hooker def. Diakiese via submission (guillotine choke), Round 3, 0:43
Carlos Condit vs. Neil Magny (welterweight bout) - Magny def. Condit via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Khabib Nurmagomedov celebrates his UFC 219 win over Edson Barboza
Prelims
Khalil Rountree vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (light-heavyweight bout) - Oleksiejczuk def. Rountree via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Myles Jury vs. Rick Glenn (men’s featherweight bout) - Jury def. Glenn via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Louis Smolka vs. Matheus Nicolau (men’s flyweight bout) - Nicolau def. Smolka via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-25)
Tim Elliot vs. Mark De La Rosa (men’s bantamweight bout) - Elliot def. De La Rosa via submission (anaconda choke) Round 2, 1:41
Marvin Vettori vs. Omari Akhmedov (middleweight bout) - Majority draw (28-28, 29-28 [Vettori], 28-28)