UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov gives his own assessment on who his first title challenger would be.
UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is still uncertain about whom he would be facing for his first title defense. From his end, “The Eagle” had already mentioned possible fights against either Conor McGregor or Georges St-Pierre.
But if neither of these matchups come to fruition, Khabib does have his back up plans.
“If not Conor, if not GSP, I think (the) winner (of) Eddie Alvarez vs. Dustin Poirier deserves the title shot,” Khabib told documentary filmmaker Will Harris of Anatomy of a Fighter. “Because about Tony Ferguson, I don’t know. He just had surgery. If he can, why not?”
“Tony Ferguson is the biggest matchup,” he continued. “For me, this match (is) what I want, what the people wants, what the fans want. I don’t know about his health, (but) if you’re ready, let’s go.”
Ferguson recently stated that he does intend to fight Khabib over McGregor, and that “The Notorious” is “not in the mix.”
Khabib, on the other hand, admittedly would not say no if the UFC presented him with a “money fight” offer to face McGregor.
“If they want to make money, let’s go,” he said. “Khabib vs. Conor, country vs. country, fans vs. fans. It’s going to be very big, one of the biggest – I think biggest matchup in UFC history. Me vs. Conor.
Khabib also mentioned that he is ready to be back by September or October, after having just gone through a month-long respite last May in Dagestan to celebrate Ramadan with friends and family.