Russian ace Khabib Nurmagomedov has threatened to quit the UFC if he doesn’t get the next shot at the lightweight title.
“If I don’t fight after this fight for the title, I never fight in UFC,” Nurmagomedov stated via a translator on The Luke Thomas Show. “No more. Because I deserve this. I am undefeated, I never lose. Eight-and-a-half years, I never lose. And everybody knows that I deserve this fight.”
It’s hard to argue with the man, given that his pro-record stands at an impressive 23-0, which includes no less than eight wins in the UFC to date.
Nevertheless, Nurmagomedov was overlooked for a title shot against Eddie Alvarez this time around, with featherweight champion Conor McGregor getting the opportunity at UFC 205 instead, leaving ‘The Eagle’ to go up against Michael Johnson at the event instead.
Needless to say, that’s not something that sits well with the 28 year-old, particularly as the UFC appeared to use him as a pawn in a bigger game during negotiations for the New York City event.
“First of all, the UFC say, ‘You’re going to fight Aug. 27 in Canada against Eddie,” I say, ‘I take this fight.’ Eddie does not take this fight. After, UFC gives me 205 [vs. Alvarez]. Eddie say, ‘No.’ After, the UFC gives me 206. Eddie say, ‘No.’ And now these guys make this bulls*** fight. Yes, I understand that this is money fight but first of all, this is sport and the champion has to fight the No. 1-ranked. I’m the No. 1 ranked.
“I fight in the lightweight division for almost five years in the UFC. Conor McGregor never fight in the lightweight division. For me, I think this is a very bad situation.”
Nurmagomedov is the second high-profile fighter to threaten to quit the UFC since the Alvarez Vs McGregor fight was announced, with interim featherweight champ Jose Aldo having already gone a step further by demanding that he be released from his contract after finally losing patience with the fact that the UFC have not only snubbed him for a rematch with ‘The Notorious’, but have also refused to strip the 145lb title from the Irishman despite the fact he seems to have little interest in competing there now.
