UFC Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is currently still serving a suspension for his part in the post-fight brawl following his fight with Conor McGregor at UFC 229 last year, but it seems he’s looking to make up for lost time when he does finally return to the Octagon.
That’s the word according to his manager Ali Abdelaziz, who says ‘The Eagle’ has laid out a blueprint for when he’d like the trio of fights to take place.
“He gave me very specific instructions,” Abdelaziz told ESPN. “He said he wants to fight Sept. 7 and again in December. And if Georges St-Pierre can figure things out with the UFC by April, that’s the deal. He would like that fight in April.”
That first fight on September 7th is expected to be against current interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi, while as thing stand it would appear that he is not particularly interested in the idea of booking a rematch with his rival McGregor unless he proves himself worthy first.
“To be honest, Conor is going to have to go out there and fight somebody like Justin Gaethje, Tony Ferguson or Cowboy [Donald Cerrone]. He’s not a worthy enough opponent right now. That’s the feeling from all of us, as a team.”