Conor McGregor: Khabib drops bombshell with lightweight division claim
CONOR MCGREGOR - KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV has revealed he's more than willing to fight any of the lightweight division's top contenders should a fight with Conor McGregor fail to come to fruition.
Late last month, Nurmagomedov claimed the UFC brass are 'working on' his eagerly-anticipated showdown with McGregor, his predecessor at the summit of the lightweight division.
However, the Dagestan native's declaration was publicly dismissed this past weekend by UFC president Dana White, who recently told Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole: "No, we're not (in talks with Conor McGregor) But we have been talking.
Nurmagomedov is eager to lock horns with McGregor in September or October and has stated his desire to do so on multiple occasions.
However, if a fight with the UFC's poster boy fails to materialise, 'The Eagle' will turn his attention to locking horns with former welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre or the winner of Eddie Alvarez vs Dustin Poirier.
“If not Conor, if not 'GSP' [Georges St-Pierre], I think the winner of Eddie Alvarez versus Dustin Poirier. The winner deserves a title shot," Nurmagomedov said during the latest episode of Anatomy of a Fighter.
One man mixed martial arts fans want Nurmagomedov lock horns with is former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson, who he's been scheduled to face a staggering four times.
Ferguson is still recovering from the torn MCL he suffered while fulfilling his media obligations for his fourth cancelled fight with Nurmagomedov.
Although there's no timeline for El Cucuy's return to action, Nurmagomedov is still keen to face the Ultimate Fighter season 13 winner.
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If not Conor, if not 'GSP' [Georges St-Pierre], I think the winner of Eddie Alvarez versus Dustin Poirier
He added: "About [former interim champion] Tony Ferguson, I don’t know.
"He has surgery but if he can [fight], why not? Tony Ferguson is the biggest match-up for me.
"It is the match I want… I don’t know if he is healthy but if he is, why not?
"If they want to make money, let’s go – Khabib versus Conor.”
McGregor, 29, hasn't set foot inside the Octagon since claiming the lightweight title 19 months ago at UFC 205, where he became the first fighter in UFC history to hold two titles simultaneously.
Nurmagomedov, meanwhile, hasn't fought since succeeding McGregor at the summit of the lightweight division at UFC 223, where he defeated Al Iaquinta via unanimous decision.