The fact that UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor is out of action indefinitely while he pursues a boxing superfight with Floyd Mayweather Jr is hardly an ideal situation for No.1 contender Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Nevertheless, the Russian star understands why that fight is being pursued, even though he thinks it’s a risky move, not just for McGregor, but for the entire sport of mixed martial arts.
“As a fan, it is a very interesting fight,” Khabib admitted at an open workout in Moscow this past weekend. “I understand perfectly why it is carried out. It is guaranteed to bring the organizers a lot of money. Such an event the world of martial arts is not yet known.
“But in truth, for MMA it is a very dangerous fight. We’re close to boxing in terms of popularity ratings. And if the most-promoted fighter the UFC such as McGregor is defeated by a 40-year-old boxer, it would be a blow to the reputation of MMA.
“But the money apparently outweighs any risks.”
Nurmagomedov is not the only one who has questioned whether this is the right move for the sport.
However, as he suggests, it seems that the hype surrounding the fight, the determination of the two fighters to make it a reality, and the UFC’s new owners WME-IMG being eager to recoup some of their $4 billion investment, makes it inevitable that it will happen, for better of worse.
