Although Khabib Nurmagomedov has gone undefeated, the UFC’s lightweight champ isn’t the consensus, pound-for-pound king of MMA. But, recently the galaxy class grappler outlined how he plans to change that.
The UFC recently held a pre-fight presser to promote Khabib’s September 7th bout with Dustin Poirier. While discussing his plans for the future, as well as his legacy, Nurmagomedov had this to say (quote via MMA Junkie):
“If I want to improve my legacy, I have to beat Dustin, I have to beat Tony Ferguson and GSP. Then I can become pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter. This is my opinion.”
“Honestly, I want to stay in 155,” Nurmagomedov said, while discussing the possibility of competing in another weight class. “If they make 165, maybe, or 160. But at 170, I’m not big like in 155.”
“….But, I want to stay at 155. I have a lot of works in 155 – Dustin, Tony, and right now the biggest division is the lightweight division, and I have a lot of works at lightweight.”
You’ll notice here that Conor McGregor isn’t mentioned. Further enforcing the argument that if the UFC does push Khabib to fight the star again, they’re going to have to bring a lot to the table. It also seems pretty clear that Nurmagomedov is going to drive for a fight with Ferguson, provided he gets by Poirier at UFC 242.
As far as facing Georges St-Pierre: Dana White has repeatedly shot down that idea, Khabib’s manager Ali Abdelaziz recently claimed the fighter’s new deal has a clause, in case a bout with the Canadian star actually materializes.
All that aside, if Khabib does beat Poirier, Ferguson and then St-Pierre, would he become the P4P best? Currently Jon Jones is ahead of Khabib in the UFC rankings at #2, and Daniel Cormier is #1.
UFC 242 will take place in Abu Dhabi. The card will mark the first time Nurmagomedov has fought since last October, when he submitted McGregor.
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