Khabib Nurmagomedov won’t fight for no damn interim belt, he wants McGregor bout - manager
KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV has no intention of fighting for the interim lightweight title, his manager Ali Abdelaziz has revealed.
Khabib Nurmagomedov looks on at the official UFC 219 weigh-ins
After his UFC 219 victory over Edson Barboza, Nurmagomedov made it known that he wanted his next outing inside the Octagon to see him take on interim 155lbs king Tony Ferguson, a man he’s been scheduled to face three times.
“Next fight? If the UFC tell me, ‘What do you want?’ I’m going to say Tony Ferguson,” the Dagestan native told Joe Rogan during his post-fight interview.
“Because he has ten win streak in lightweight division. I’m undefeated all my career. Tony Ferguson.”
Nurmagomedov reiterated his desire to finally face Ferguson in the days after UFC 219, repeatedly dismissing the notion of fighting Conor McGregor next.
However, according to his manager, 'The Eagle' has pulled a U-turn and has now set his sights on McGregor, the lightweight division’s undisputed ruler.
“Khabib’s next fight, we’re not fighting for no damn interim belt,” Abdelaziz said told MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani. “We want the real belt or we don’t want nothing.
UFC's Khabib Nurmagomedov wrestles a BEAR
Khabib’s next fight, we’re not fighting for no damn interim belt
“We appreciate everything the UFC has done for us, but it’s time for a real a belt.
“Nobody is interested in fighting for a fake belt. Tony Ferguson has a fake belt. Nobody wants this.”
Should a fight with McGregor or Ferguson fail to materialise, Nurmagomedov has his heart set on a bout with former lightweight king Eddie Alvarez.
Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Edson Barboza via unanimous decision
Khabib Nurmagomedov wants to fight the lightweight title
“I think that Conor, Diaz, and Ferguson, instead of fighting with Khabib, will be better off against each other 30 times,” Nurmagomedov’s father Abdulmanap told MatchTV.ru
“If Conor and Ferguson fight among themselves, give us Alvarez. He said that he was preparing Barboza for Khabib. Well, let’s see, let him go himself now.”