Jon Jones doesn’t see a potential rematch between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor going any differently than their first fight.
Speaking to TMZ, UFC light heavyweight champion Jones said he finds it hard to bet against a wrestler, which is why he’d pick UFC lightweight champ Nurmagomedov to win.
Nurmagomedov retained his title with a fourth-round submission win over McGregor at UFC 229 and was able to dominate and control McGregor on the ground.
“I typically don’t go against wrestlers, if you were asking me as a betting man,” Jones said. “Wrestlers have the power to dictate where the fight goes – whether it’s going to be a standing match, or whether he’s going to take him to the ground and make it a jiu-jitsu match. I think the cards are always kind of in Khabib’s hands. Conor definitely has a chance. But if I would put my money on it, I’m definitely going with Khabib, for sure.”
Since beating McGregor, Nurmagomedov went on to notch another title defense when he submitted Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 this past September. He is scheduled to face Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 in Brooklyn, N.Y., on April 18.
McGregor made his return after a 16-month layoff, with a 40-second finish of Donald Cerrone at UFC 246. He’s keen on running things back with Nurmagomedov.
But neither Nurmagomedov or his manager seem interested in a rematch, despite the potential money that can be made, including a reported $100 million offered by Saudi Arabia.
