UFC 223: Khabib Nurmagomedov sends chilling message to Max Holloway ahead of title fight
KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV reckons Max Holloway has made a big mistake by stepping up to face him this weekend.
Khabib Nurmagomedov addresses fans during an open workout
Holloway takes on Nurmagomedov in the main event of UFC 223 in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The UFC's featherweight champion was drafted in on six day's notice to face the undefeated Nurmagomedov due to a knee injury to interim lightweight belt holder Tony Ferguson, the result of a freak accident at Fox Studios.
Holloway's decision to face the most dominant force in mixed martial with just a few days to come up with a game plan has been hailed by many, most notably UFC president Dana White.
Nurmagomedov respects 'Blessed' for stepping up and saving the biggest card of the year but believes he'll live to regret his decision.
“No one is like me,” Nurmagomedov said during an appearance on The MMA Hour. "Nobody [was] wrestling with him [in past fights].
"But now, he is on different territory, different weight class, different animals. Everything is different.”
Although he's confident of getting his hand raised and claiming the lightweight title, Nurmagomedov is refusing to take Holloway lightly.
UFC's Khabib Nurmagomedov wrestles a BEAR
He is on different territory, different weight class, different animals
“I scared about this when I think about this," he said. "I don’t want to underestimate this guy. This guy has 12[-fight] win streak in the UFC.”
"One of the greatest who ever compete in UFC."
'The Eagle' is fully aware of what Holloway brings to the table and believes he would've given Ferguson a run for his money if the shoe was on the other foot and he had been forced to withdraw from the biggest pay-per-view card of the year so far.
Max Holloway has stepped in on six days' notice to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov
“I don’t want to think it’s much easier fight than Tony Ferguson,” Nurmagomedov said. “I don’t think.
"I think if they fight, Max Holloway would give him big problem."
UFC 223: Khabib vs Holloway fight card
Max Holloway vs Khabib Nurmagomedov (lightweight title fight)
Rose Namajunas vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk (women’s strawweight title fight)
Renato Moicano vs Calvin Kattar (men’s featherweight bout)
Michael Chiesa vs Anthony Pettis (lightweight bout)
Al Iaquinta vs Paul Felder (lightweight bout)
Khabib Nurmagomedov meets Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 223
Prelims
Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs Felice Herrig (women’s strawweight bout)
Ray Borg vs Brandon Moreno (men’s flyweight bout)
Joe Lauzon vs Chris Gruetzemacher (lightweight bout)
Evan Dunham vs Oliver Aubin-Mercier (lightweight bout)
Alex Careers vs Artem Lobov (men’s featherweight bout)
Bec Rawlings vs Ashlee Evans-Smith (women’s flyweight bout)
Kevin Clark vs Mike Rodriguez (light-heavyweight bout)
Zabit Magomedshapirov vs Kyle Bochniak (men’s featherweight bout)