VIDEO | Khabib Nurmagomedov: “No, no way” Conor McGregor Gets Title Shot Against him If He Becomes Champion

“This is not Conor belt,” Nurmagomedov said in reference to his UFC 223 main event against Tony Ferguson. “This is not interim Tony Ferguson belt. This is undisputed belt. And after when we fight April 7, April 8, they’re gonna make it official. Who wins becomes real champ. Now, Tony Ferguson is still interim champion. And Conor McGregor, they call him champion, but he isn’t champ. Whoever wins is gonna become real champ.

I don’t think he(Ferguson) has better jiu-jitsu than me, better grappling. I think he’s unpredictable a little bit. He has very good knee, very good elbow. But I don’t think he ever fight with somebody like me, who have like pressure, top control, good everywhere. Strong. When we go to the cage, when cage close, we’re gonna show this. Me and Tony Ferguson is different level.

When I beat Tony Ferguson, I’m gonna make [Conor] McGregor a little bit humble and he have to stay on the line. He have to stay on the line, because he only have one fight at 155. And he want to fight for the title? No, no way. When I become UFC lightweight champ, I’m gonna say, ‘Hey, who is real contender? Who has five, six, seven-win streak?’ They have to fight for the title, not for you We’ll see what happens. But I don’t think he’ll ever fight with me. I think they understand what’s gonna happen.”

With or without Conor McGregor, the Lightweight division plans to move forward. At UFC 223, Khabib Nurmagomedov challenges for Tony Ferguson’s…currently Interim title but come fight night, it may very well be the undisputed title. As Khabib mentions in his interview with Denis Geyko of RT.com, UFC President, Dana White has been rather inconclusive about what kind of title the two will be fighting over.

UFC 223 takes place on April 7th. Who will come out on top?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 1/29/2018.