After fourth consecutive win, UFC 206's Rustam Khabilov explains Kevin Lee callout

TORONTO – After his fourth dominant win in a row, Rustam Khabilov wasn’t shy about what – or rather who – he wanted next: lightweight prospect Kevin Lee.

Following an octagon callout of “The Motown Phenom” after a unanimous decision triumph over Jason Saggo (12-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) at Saturday’s UFC 206, Khabilov (21-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) elaborated backstage on why exactly Lee is next on his hitlist.

“This year, I’m working a lot – this is my fourth fight,” Khabilov said after his UFC Fight Pass-streamed preliminary card scrap at Air Canada Centre in Toronto. “I won all the fights, and all the fights I won all three rounds. All the judges gave me every fight. So yeah, I want to fight the top guys.

“But (Lee) talked about Dagestan wrestling. I live there. I wrestle every day, every morning with the Olympic champions and a lot of very good wrestlers. I want to try. If you want to try in wrestling, let’s go, we do this. No problem.”

His intentions aren’t new. Khabilov had already brought up Lee’s name on social media even before he stepped onto the octagon in Toronto.

And, after Khabilov delivered and came out victorious of Saturday’s scrap, his target made sure to respond to the challenge.

Originally scheduled to take place in the 155-pound division, the scrap with Saggo had to be held at catchweight – with Khabilov being one of three UFC 206 fighters who failed to make weight.

The issue, he says, was that he started working with a nutritionist for the first time. And, surprised with the weight miss, he vowed to never repeat it again.

“(It had) never (happened),” Khabilov said. “But I think this is (the) first and last time.”

For more of Khabilov’s thoughts on his win and a potential fight with Lee, check out the video above.

And for complete coverage of UFC 206, check out the UFC Events section of the site.