Khabib Nurmagomedov doesn't believe Conor McGregor wants to fight him again.
The Notorious hasn't been seen in the Octagon since losing to the Russian over 13 months ago, but has claimed he will return to action in January.
McGregor has repeatedly called a second shot at Nurmagomedov and wants the sequel to be held in Moscow.
But when asked about the rematch during a Q&A, Nurmagomedov was dismissive, reports The Mirror.
“Honestly I don’t think he wants that fight," he said. "How is that so? I beat him up for four rounds. I beat him and choked him and he tapped. It was a sign he didn’t want to be there, ‘let me go please’ and all that. And now he wants the rematch.
"First of all he has to earn it. We’re in the fourth year since his last victory. It’s been three years and now we’re in the fourth. In order to fight for the title I had to win 10 fights in a row in the UFC.
"That’s not counting the 16 victories I had outside the UFC. In every fight I earned it not with my mouth but with my actions. That’s where we’re different - he talks about it, I just do it.
“It’s nice for me, because even when I keep quiet and even when I don’t say anything people can weigh it up for themselves. ‘Hang on, this guy talks and this guy just acts’.
"Just talking is one thing, but when it comes to doing it, he’s completely different. So for me there are no kind of announcements or insults. He’s an idiot. We don’t pay attention to idiots."
McGregor is due to return to the cage on January 18 against Donald Cerrone with an announcement expected soon.
His manager Audie Attar said: “I would say that talks have been progressing. We’ve met them, we’re in close communication with them.
"I would hope that an announcement could happen in the coming weeks, but at the end of the day, it’s still a work in progress.”
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