UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov had dismissed recent talk that a rematch with Conor McGregor could be on the cards before the end of the year.
“The last three years he only have one victory in amateur boxing, how [does] he deserve rematch?” Nurmagomedov said about McGregor at today’s UFC 242 press conference. “He tapped. He begged me ‘please, don’t kill me’ and he talks about rematch. Tony Ferguson on the line. People who have win streak are on the line but not the guy who don’t win nothing the last three years.
“I have a lot of work without him. Right now, I’m focused on Sept. 7.”
Nurmagomedov was however more open to the possibility of fighting Tony Ferguson, although he does have some reservations.
“He deserves a title shot in my opinion but when the UFC asked him to fight Max Holloway, he don’t take this fight,” Nurmagomedov said of Ferguson. “The problem right now is because of him. I don’t know why he don’t take this fight but he take regular fight with “Cowboy” [Donald Cerrone]. I don’t understand this.
“I don’t want to underestimate my opponent in Dustin. He’s a tough challenge for me. Right now I don’t want to think about other opponents. I have to focus on my opponent.”
