Khabib Nurmagomedov has told Conor McGregor he needs to win ten consecutive fights to get another shot at the UFC lightweight belt.
The Notorious has not fought since losing to the undefeated Russian 13 months ago, but has suggested he will return to the Octagon in early 2020.
It has not yet been revealed who McGregor's next opponent will be, although fellow lightweights Justin Gaethje and Donald Cerrone are the among the likely contenders, reports The Mirror.
After that fight, former two-weight UFC champion McGregor wants to fight Jorge Masvidal after his win against Nate Diaz at UFC 244, before rounding off 2020 with a rematch against Nurmagomedov.
But Nurmagomedov has told McGregor he needs to win not two, but 10 straight bouts to earn the chance to face the Russian again.
“As for a rematch, to fight for a belt in the UFC, I remember I had something like nine or 10 fights. If he wins 10 fights in a row, then that’s completely possible,” Nurmagomedov said in quotes reported by MMA Junkie .
Nurmagomedov said he is in negotiations to fight Tony Ferguson next, but wants the fight to be in New York rather than the UFC’s preferred venue of Las Vegas.
The UFC lightweight champion has demanded an apology over Nevada State Athletic Commission's decision to fine and suspend him for a post-fight brawl after his bout with McGregor.
Nurmagomedov said: “They offered me to fight in Vegas in March, but I told them that if Vegas officially apologises for wrongly fining me for that incident on October 6, 2018, then I’ll fight there.
“If not, then they can assign me to another date. As far as I know, they’re planning in April to hold (a fight card) somewhere in New York, so I’m saying I’m ready for April, or March if Las Vegas apologizes.”
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