UFC lightweight star Khabib Nurmagomedov has revealed he’s waiting on champion Eddie Alvarez to sign a contract sanctioning an upcoming bout and has also sent a message to featherweight champion Conor McGregor.
The Russian is seeking to reestablish his reputation as an elite competitor in the UFC, with his only win since returning from injury coming against Darrell Horcher in April. However, UFC President Dana White confirmed on Twitter that Nurmagomedov is next in line for a shot at Alvarez’s strap.
However, it would seem that the champion is stalling on committing to this one, based on posts from the challenger’s Twitter feed at least:
Let's go @Ealvarezfight all your life you're warrior why you chicken now? The champ supposed to fight anyone @danawhite go out like a man
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) September 23, 2016
Im about to sign bout agreement for 205 and 206 let's see what the Philadelphia boy going to do https://t.co/boFUHduov7
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) September 23, 2016
August, September, October and November I was offered to fight, but he never signed agreement. #needtobestrippedof @danawhite
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) September 23, 2016
@ealvarezfight Signed both UFC 205 & UFC 206 contracts. Chose one and go out like a man @ufc @danawhiteufc @seanshelby @KevinI @espn pic.twitter.com/exmHPmnGht
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) September 23, 2016
If this fight does go ahead it’d be Alvarez’s first defence of the belt he won in shock circumstances against Rafael Dos Anjos earlier in the year.
The Philadelphia fighter settled into the contest the quicker of the duo, tagging his opponent with some big shots and finishing the bout inside the opening round. It was Alvarez’s first UFC championship, making him the first man to win titles in both UFC and Bellator.
It’s clear Nurmagomedov wants to be the man that faces Alvarez in his first fight as champion, and it’d be fascinating to see how the Sambo expert would fare after a long stint without facing elite opposition.
Indeed, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Snowden is unsure how he managed to become the top contender for the title:
I like Khabib. Like everyone, I see great potential. But Conor McGregor, right now, is a more accomplished fighter and a way bigger star.
— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) September 21, 2016
I'm not clear how Khabib is the number one contender at lightweight. Didn't fight anyone in 2015 and no one good in 2016.
— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) September 21, 2016
Nevertheless, Nurmagomedov is looking beyond a bout with Alvarez and toward a potential showdown with McGregor, who was scheduled to fight Dos Anjos at UFC 196 for the belt before the champion pulled out with an injury. However, the Russian is adamant the Notorious will have to scrap for his shot.
“I promise I become the lightweight champ, I promise all the lightweight fighters, Conor is not going to fight for the belt,” the 28-year-old said in a statement to FOX Sports’ Damon Martin. “He's going to have to earn it. From the bottom up.”
McGregor is looking for his next challenge after overcoming Nate Diaz in a brutal welterweight contest at UFC 202. He remains the featherweight champion, although the Irishman’s last fight in the class was in December, when he won the belt against Jose Aldo.
That’s a point of contention for plenty, although McGregor made his thoughts clear on the matter after beating Diaz, per MMA Fighting’s Shaheen Al-Shatti:
Conor on being stripped of 145 title: They want to give my belt to the guy I KO'd in 13 seconds and bury that division in the prelims?
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) August 21, 2016
For Alvarez, Nurmagomedov at his best would be a testing opponent. Although the Russian has spent some time in the MMA wilderness recently, he has an unbeaten professional record and has plenty of assets, most notably his extraordinary wrestling ability, to cause problems for any lightweight. The champion would have to be wary of his talent.
When McGregor was set to fight Dos Anjos for the lightweight belt a shot at history was on the line, as he sought to become the first competitor in the UFC to hold two titles concurrently. Surely he must fight at 145 before a showdown with Nurmagomedov or Alvarez if that prospect is to remain an achievable one.
