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Khabib Nurmagomedov reacts to his manager Ali Abdelaziz’s claim about Saudi Arabia wanting to host a Conor McGregor rematch for $100 million.
Manager Ali Abdelaziz recently spoke with TMZ, revealing that Saudi Arabia is willing to host the rematch between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor. To make things a little more interesting, Abdelaziz says they are willing to pay $100 million just to make it happen.
It didn’t take long for “The Eagle” to get hold of this piece of information, which he addressed during a press conference in Russia on Tuesday.
“Why do I need that kind of money?” he asked reporters (via MMA Junkie). “There are so many organizations. For example, there’s not only football for the blind, there’s sambo and other sports.
“Let (the UFC) give it to them if they don’t know what to do with the money. But giving me $100 million for me to beat up that idiot again? I don’t think that’s rational.”
Khabib absolutely sees no point in fighting someone he dominated and finished.
“Everyone saw what happened in the octagon (against McGregor). I controlled the fight every step of the way,” he explained. “I did everything I wanted to him. He even gave up. How can we even discuss a rematch? We can only talk about continuing the festivities and making money. The question is, do I want that?”
Instead, he prefers to put his focus on his upcoming title defense against Tony Ferguson.
“I have a fight on April 18 – a very serious fight,” he said. “For the past month and a half, I’ve been consistently training day and night. I’ve gotten myself in good shape to where I’m supposed to be 70 days before a fight. I feel great.
“What’ll happen after the fight, no one knows. I don’t worry about it,” Khabib continued. “That’s what (the UFC) want. I’m surprised that people even question me about a rematch. It seems that people want to continue the festivities after that fight.”
If all goes well, Khabib and Ferguson will headline UFC 249 in Brooklyn, New York.