Khabib Nurmagomedov discusses options if he doesn’t fight McGregor or GSP next

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov would like to fight Conor McGregor or Georges St-Pierre next. If neither of these stars are available, however, there are thankfully some other options on the menu.

One option, Nurmagomedov says, is the winner of Dustin Poirier and Eddie Alvarez’s rematch, which headlines UFC Calgary on July 28.

“If not Conor, if not GSP, I think Alvarez vs. Poirier, I think the winner deserves a title shot,” Nurmagomedov recently told Anatomy of a Fighter (transcribed by Jed Meshew for MMA Fighting).

Nurmagomedov says he’s also down to fight Tony Ferguson, who he’s been scheduled to fight four times previously to no avail. This matchup, he says, depends on Ferguson’s schedule.

“About Tony Ferguson, I don’t know,” Nurmagomedov said. “He just had surgery. If he can, why not? Tony Ferguson is biggest match-up for me. This match what I want, what people want, what fans want but I don’t know about his healthy. If he’s ready, let’s go. Why not? I’m ready for September, I’m ready for October, I’m training all the time. I’m here to defend my title. If the UFC gives me any opponent, I’m ready for this, to beat this guy.”

The priority for the undefeated UFC lightweight champion, however, is his arch rival McGregor, who held the title before him but was stripped due to inactivity. After Conor McGregor went ballistic and threw a dolly through the window of a bus carrying Nurmagomedov in the lead-up to UFC 223, this matchup now has all kinds of extra zest.

“If they want to make make money, let’s go,” Nurmagomedov said. “Khabib vs. Conor, country vs. country, fans vs. fans. It’s gonna be very big, one of the biggest – I think biggest match-up in UFC history, me vs. Conor. Without bus, without other things, we just have to fight but I don’t think the UFC can make the decision about this fight. About this fight, I think only Conor can make this decision. If he wants to lose and make money, he has to say yes and sign this contract and come back because people forget about when he fought last time.”

What fight do you like best for Khabib Nurmagomedov?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 7/11/2018.