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MMA

12th Feb 2017

Khabib Nurmagomedov has a message for Conor McGregor and 6.2 million proud Irish citizens

If one of us goes to war...

Patrick McCarry

… we all go to war.

Well, ye lads go to war. We’ll watch from a distance and maybe report on it.

Conor McGregor has his mind on other things right now – Floyd Mayweather Jr., his impending fatherhood, a promotions and gym sideline, sell-out Q&A sessions – but he still has a UFC legacy to build. At 28, he says, he is a young pup with plenty of fight left.

It is not certain whether the UFC lightweight champion will fight again, this year, in the Octagon but the most likely opponent would be the winner of the interim 155lb title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson.

While Ferguson has been angered by McGregor calling himself a ghost, Nurmagomedov is trying to ignore “the chicken” and focus on winning gold.

At a Q&A event in Brooklyn, this weekend, he spoke about McGregor and where the pair would likely face-off. He said:

“It is my very big dream, but UFC try to make this event at end of the year, but we will see. If Conor wants to defend his title, I don’t think me versus Conor happens in Russia. I think we fight in Madison Square Garden or T-Mobile Arena [in Las Vegas].

“But, with another opponent, maybe UFC make this fight in Russia.”

Nurmagomedov was then asked if he would hacve any objections to fighting McGregor in Ireland. “Let’s go,” he responded.

“Beat this guy in Ireland, this is like, very good.

“Make him humble. Not just him, all Ireland. Why not?”

‘The Eagle’ versus ‘The Notorious’ for the undisputed title. That would sell out Croke Park a couple of times over.

As for those 6.2m proud Irish citizens, MMA fans from north and south would be vying for every single ticket.