Khabib Nurmagomedov on UFC 209 mess: ‘This is 100% my fault’

Khabib Nurmagomedov owns up to the cancellation of his interim title fight against Tony Ferguson at UFC 209.

One of the most anticipated fights for 2017 so far was the supposed interim lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson at last month’s UFC 209. However, the fight was scrapped after Khabib was forced out due to health issues from weight cutting.

“The Eagle” never spoke publicly about what happened to him, apart from an Instagram update on his health that he posted days after the event. But over the weekend, he shared what happened from his end, in an interview with RT.

“You know I don’t remember a lot of things, to be honest,” Khabib said. “Last night (before weigh in) and I know – I am going to a hospital, I feel bad. I know that a lot of fans are upset with me about this and I agree with this guys. Because this is one of the biggest fights in Russian MMA. for me, I can make history but I am going to the hospital you know. But sometimes this happens, sometimes you can die, you know.”

“Everybody can die, everybody can (get) sick. Now I need a couple of months. Like two or three months. After three months I come for hard training and I want to fight in September.”

Khabib remains uncertain about when his fight against “El Cucuy” will be rescheduled to, as his top priority as of the moment is to remain healthy. But he did own up to what happened that led to a major letdown for fans, and more criticisms thrown his way.

“To be honest, I don’t think about this,” Khabib said of the Ferguson fight. “First of all, I have to stay healthy. This is most important. I don’t think about who fights who.”

“I think this is my fault, this is my fault. I know that (my) body don’t listen to me and I think, I know, this is my fault. How can I say that this is the coach’s fault or the diet guy’s fault? This is 100% my fault.”

Nurmagomedov has withdrawn from four fights in his UFC career, including twice against Ferguson out of the three times this matchup has been made.

Khabib Nurmagomedov owns up to the cancellation of his interim title fight against Tony Ferguson at UFC 209.

One of the most anticipated fights for 2017 so far was the supposed interim lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson at last month’s UFC 209. However, the fight was scrapped after Khabib was forced out due to health issues from weight cutting.

“The Eagle” never spoke publicly about what happened to him, apart from an Instagram update on his health that he posted days after the event. But over the weekend, he shared what happened from his end, in an interview with RT.

“You know I don’t remember a lot of things, to be honest,” Khabib said. “Last night (before weigh in) and I know – I am going to a hospital, I feel bad. I know that a lot of fans are upset with me about this and I agree with this guys. Because this is one of the biggest fights in Russian MMA. for me, I can make history but I am going to the hospital you know. But sometimes this happens, sometimes you can die, you know.”

“Everybody can die, everybody can (get) sick. Now I need a couple of months. Like two or three months. After three months I come for hard training and I want to fight in September.”

Khabib remains uncertain about when his fight against “El Cucuy” will be rescheduled to, as his top priority as of the moment is to remain healthy. But he did own up to what happened that led to a major letdown for fans, and more criticisms thrown his way.

“To be honest, I don’t think about this,” Khabib said of the Ferguson fight. “First of all, I have to stay healthy. This is most important. I don’t think about who fights who.”

“I think this is my fault, this is my fault. I know that (my) body don’t listen to me and I think, I know, this is my fault. How can I say that this is the coach’s fault or the diet guy’s fault? This is 100% my fault.”

Nurmagomedov has withdrawn from four fights in his UFC career, including twice against Ferguson out of the three times this matchup has been made.