Coach: Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov fight is “brewing up nicely”

Late last week, a report out of Russia suggested that a lightweight title fight between undefeated champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and former two-division champ Conor McGregor could headline UFC 229, this October 6 in Las Vegas.

Over the weekend, McGregor’s striking coach Owen Roddy was asked about this possibility. While he assured he couldn’t confirm anything outright, he did say McGregor is training hard, and that the fight with Nurmagomedov is “brewing up nicely.”

“I can’t confirm anything,” Roddy told MMANytt‘s Jim Edwards. “It would be great to get Conor back. He’s training hard, he’s always training. He’s motivated and he wants to fight. It’s just that he needs to get a few things sorted out, then he can sit down and negotiate a good deal for his next fight.

“I think it will be another big spectacle — they always are. I’m excited, just like everybody else.”

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“I always say, Conor wants the biggest fights he can possible have so I think at the moment, Khabib seems to be that guy,” Roddy added.

“I’m sure it’s just down to negotiations, but yeah, I think it is building. This started similarly with the Mayweather fight; there was talk, there was a bit of back and forth and a bit of drama. Once the crowd and the fans get behind it, they ultimately make the fight. It’s brewing up nicely.”

Conor McGregor has not competed since August of 2017, when he was stopped by boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr in the boxing ring. His most recent MMA bout occurred all the way back in November of 2016, when he delivered a second-round knockout of Eddie Alvarez to capture the UFC lightweight belt.

Khabib Nurmagomedov, meanwhile, last fought in April, when he defeated last-minute replacement opponent Al Iaquinta to capture the lightweight title that was simultaneously stripped from the long-absent McGregor.

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 6/18/2018.