Earlier this month, Conor McGregor listed 10 men that he could potentially face in the Octagon next. He’s done with boxing, for now.
‘The Notorious’ is said to be keen on fighting again this year, but this comes from UFC president Dana White. The same man was telling reporters, earlier this year, that McGregor’s next bout could well be against Khabib Nurmagomedov in Russia.
Even Nurmagomedov doesn’t believe that.
‘The Eagle’ was on The MMA Hour to give an update on his health and fighting availability after a tough six months. He was due to fight Tony Ferguson at UFC 209 before a weight cut went awry, cost him the headliner and landed him in hospital.
Ferguson is now the interim lightweight champion, after defeating Kevin Lee at UFC 216, and claims he has McGregor, who won the lightweight belt last November, ‘in check’.
Nurmagomedov believes McGregor has only two realistic options for his next fight, and he is not one of them. He commented:
“I think UFC has to make the fight, Conor versus Nate Diaz 3, and after, me and Tony.
“Because, my opinion, I think Tony Ferguson is the real champion. That’s why.
“I don’t think, if I fight versus Tony Ferguson, this is an interim belt. Officially, yes. But people want to see me versus Tony Ferguson. I think this is a much better fight, for everything. If I beat Tony Ferguson and take the interim championship belt… Conor’s the official champion, but he’s not the people’s champion.”
My man @Bosslogic is the best there is, simple as. pic.twitter.com/c7OuqeD5IW
— Darragh Murphy (@DarrMurphy) October 17, 2017
John Kavanagh and Owen Roddy, McGregor’s coaches, are pushing for their man to see out a trilogy against Diaz but White calls all talk of an agreement being neared as ‘internet bullshit’.
Nurmagomedov believes McGregor’s only other option, if the Diaz fight fails to materialise, is to unify the 155lbs division by taking on Ferguson.
Khabib Nurmagomedov says he'd take a fight with Edson Barboza if the UFC books Conor McGregor vs. Tony Ferguson #themmahour
— Guilherme Cruz (@guicruzzz) October 16, 2017
Interestingly, Barboza [the No.3 ranked lightweight] tweeted out that he has a December fight coming up but deleted it soon after.
It would make sense, if McGregor does have a fight coming up, to place another lightweight bout on the card, in case of injuries. If there are any major announcements for UFC 2019, on December 30, we should find out before the end of the month.
