Conor McGregor: UFC return hits roadblock as Khabib holds Dana White to ransom with demand
CONOR MCGREGOR’s grudge match with Khabib Nurmagomedov has seemingly hit a roadblock.
The former UFC lightweight champion is on course to make his long-awaited return to the Octagon later this year after nearly two years away from the mixed martial arts world.
McGregor is expected to be welcomed back to the cage by his successor at the summit of the division, Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Negotiations over the grudge match are currently ongoing but have not yet bore fruit, though McGregor recently hinted that an agreement will soon be reached.
Nurmagomedov, Russia’s first UFC belt holder, is keen to lock horns with the Irishman and recently vowed to rearrange his face.
However, the undefeated Dagestani has seemingly thrown a spanner into the works by demanding the UFC brass give him a new contract before signing on the dotted line.
“Interesting situation, if they want to make money fight, they have to pay me too,” ‘The Eagle’ told freelance reporter Adam Glyn.
“I’m not going to give them a chance to use my name and have Conor make money and the UFC make money and I make $200,000 (£153,000). No way.
“If they want me to fight like my current contract, I can fight. But okay give me (Dustin) Poirier. I’m going to follow my contract.
I’m not going to give them a chance to use my name and have Conor make money and the UFC make money and I make $200,000
“But if they want to use my name and use me to make money, Conor and the UFC, no way.”
An incensed Nurmagomedov added: “They want to use me? I’m the undefeated, undisputed UFC lightweight champion.
"I don’t need him. He need me. He’s like 2-2 (in his last four fights). He don’t fight (MMA) two years.
"He don’t deserve this type of shot. Dustin Poirier is (in line). He deserve this.
“If they want to use me and make a lot of millions, use my name, no way. They want a money fight? Please pay me.”
Nurmagomedov wants his proposed encounter with Mcgregor to come to fruition as soon as possible, adding: “I hope it’s gonna be made.
“I hope they gonna make this fight, because I really want change this guy’s face.
“I really want to meet him alone inside the cage, only me and him.”
Nurmagomedov vs McGregor is expected to headline UFC 229, which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on October 6.
McGregor, 30, hasn’t set foot inside the Octagon since claiming the lightweight title 20 months ago in the main event of UFC 205, where he became the promotion’s first simultaneous two-weight world champion.
The Notorious was relieved of the lightweight crown in April due to inactivity, the second time he's been stripped of a belt by the UFC brass.
Nurmagomedov, meanwhile, hasn’t fought since replacing McGregor at the summit of the 155lbs division in the main event of UFC 223.