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Reigning UFC lightweight titleholder Khabib Nurmagomedov is no stranger to dominant performances. Look no further than his third-round submission win over former interim 155-pound champion Dustin Poirier in the UFC 242 main event back in Sept. 2019.
The promotion certainly could have released that footage to hype “The Eagle’s” upcoming title defense against the hard-hitting Justin Gaethje. Instead, it went back to the “Notorious” video it already posted the last time Nurmagomedov headlined a major fight card.
I’m sure it has nothing to do with the ongoing contract negotiations between McGregor and UFC, or the fact that the outspoken Irishman violated the bro-code by releasing private messages with promotion president Dana White. That would be vindictive and petty.
And something UFC would NEVER do.
McGregor is still angling for a lightweight title shot but may have to saw his way through Poirier to get there. That’s up to UFC, which according to this recent update, may need to get something going before year’s end to make it happen.