Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, told the world’s largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion that he’s not returning to the Octagon until November, as a show of solidarity for his suspended teammates, Zubaira Tukgugov and Abubakar Nurmagomedov.
All three were fined and suspended for the UFC 229 post-fight brawl last October.
But “The Eagle” can be coaxed back as early as September, if UFC is willing to give Tukgugov and Abubakar a spot on the same fight card (or sooner). That’s according to a conversation Nurmagomedov had during his annual meet and greet at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics.
“UFC told me that they are working on this,” Nurmagomedov told RT Sport. “I just came back from Dubai. And very soon news is coming. Very soon. Tony Ferguson can’t fight at the moment, (Georges) St-Pierre is retired, (Conor) McGregor is retired, a boxing match with (Floyd) Mayweather is not happening as we couldn’t come to an agreement with UFC. (Max) Holloway and (Dustin) Poirier are great fighters, I will fight the winner of this bout.”
Ferguson is the rightful No. 1 contender, but is suffering from personal problems that sidelined “El Cucuy” for the foreseeable future. McGregor, meanwhile, hung up the gloves after UFC president, Dana White, refused to give him equity in the promotion.
A fight against Mayweather would only take place inside the Octagon, so that’s off the table, and UFC wasn’t going to wait around for Nurmagomedov to make his next move. That’s why UFC 236 will crown an interim champion and “The Eagle’s” next opponent.
Expect an official announcement in the coming weeks.