Khabib Nurmagomedov confirms Tony Ferguson negotiation; outlines Conor McGregor rematch

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov recently confirmed that he is indeed in negotiations to fight Tony Ferguson when he returns to the Octagon. He also confirmed that there is a route to a Conor McGregor rematch. 

There are stumbling blocks along the road to both. 

A McGregor rematch seems the longest of shots. According to RT Sport, Nurmagomedov gave a path to a rematch, but at McGregor’s current pace of taking fights, the Dagestani champion would likely be retired well before the Irishman could meet the mark.

“As for a rematch (with Conor McGregor), to fight for a belt in the UFC, I remember I had something like nine or 10 fights. If he wins 10 fights in a row, then that’s completely possible,” Nurmagomedov said.

The title defense against Ferguson is much more likely to happen, although there are roadblocks in the current negotiation.

UFC president Dana White has openly admitted that they were working on Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson and targeting March 2020 for the bout. Nurmagomedov confirmed those details, but added that the UFC is pitching Las Vegas as the location for the bout.

Nurmagomedov is all well and good with all of that, but there is a stipulation. The Nevada State Athletic Commission must apologize to him.

Yes, you read that correctly. Nurmagomedov wants an apology for having been fined for his part in the UFC 229 post-fight brawl that he was engaged in with McGregor’s team.

“We’re in talks now [for the Ferguson fight],” Nurmagomedov said. “They suggested having it in Las Vegas in March, but they have to issue me an official apology for fining me for the incident on Oct. 6, 2018.”

This article first appeared at News – MMAWeekly.com

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