There is a lot of uncertainty at the moment when it comes to Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) Lightweight division. That’s because the current champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, is retired from the fight game and is content with leaving the fight game at 29-0, 13-0 UFC.
According to UFC President Dana White, what happens next at 155 pounds will come down to what comes out of his meeting with “The Eagle” in a couple of weeks on “Fight Island.”
“I get on the plane on Monday and head to Abu Dhabi, I dont know when he (Khabib) gets there, but he and I are set to meet as soon as he arrives,” said White during a recent Q&A with Laura Sanko.
In the meantime, the 155-pound division still has to go on and a big fight between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier — which is set to go down at UFC 257 on Jan. 23, 2021 — will likely determine the next title contender in the division.
“I dont know if that’s where the media will put them (in the rankings) or whatever, but yeah, whoever wins that fight is probably next in line,” added White.
Still, should Khabib decide to mount a comeback for one more fight, he has gone on record numerous times to say he has no interest in a rematch against “Notorious” or “The Diamond” since he already submitted both of them.
Furthermore, many believe the only fight that would entice Nurmagomedov to return is one against former UFC Welterweight and Middleweight champion, Georges St-Pierre. But according to White, that fight is currently not on his radar.
“I have not pursued that fight at all. I have not talked to either one of them at all,” he said.
Still, perhaps that could be the ace up his sleeve in preparation for his big meeting with his 155-pound champion. But if nothing comes out of it, then the promotion is already eying a potential scrap between Justin Gaethje and Charles Oliveira, which could also provide the next title challenger.
And let’s not forget the pivotal matchup between Dan Hooker and Michael Chandler, which is set to co-headline UFC 257.