LONDON – Khabib Nurmagomedov doesn’t see Conor McGregor in his path any time soon.
The undefeated UFC lightweight champion (27-0 MMA, 11-0 UFC) is getting ready for the second defense of his title as he prepares to face interim champion Dustin Poirier (25-5 MMA, 17-4 UFC) at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi on September 7.
During a low-key news conference at Hotel Cafe Royal in the heart of London’s theatre district, there were no theatrics from either man as they spoke respectfully and calmly ahead of their lightweight title unification bout before facing off without incident at the event’s conclusion.
The majority of the talk centered around the two fighters’ preparation to face off in Abu Dhabi. But when the topic of McGregor was raised, Nurmagomedov made clear where he sees the Irishman: in his rear-view mirror.
“Last three years he have only one victory in amateur boxing,” he told reporters. “How he deserve a rematch?”
Nurmagomedov dominated McGregor at the T-Mobile Arena at UFC 229 last October, dropping the former two-division champion en route to a fourth-round submission victory.
And ‘The Eagle’ said talk of a rematch was redundant, given how things panned out in the first meeting between the pair.
“He tapped. He begged me: ‘Please don’t kill me,’ you know? Now he’s talking about rematch?” he said.
“Tony Ferguson on the line. People who have win streak on the line. Not a guy who don’t win nothing last three years, you know?
“I have a lot of works without him. Right now I focus on September 7.”
For more on UFC 242, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
