It looks like Khabib vs. McGregor 2 just edged a little bit closer to becoming a reality.
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father Abdulmanap appeared on Russian YouTube channel “Zhivina100” and spoke about the possibility of the undefeated UFC lightweight champion facing off against Conor McGregor in a rematch on Russian soil sometime in 2020.
Appearing to lay down a challenge to the Irishman, Abdulmanap said (via RT Sport translation): “If McGregor wants it, then Moscow is waiting for him. He said once that he has more fans here than Khabib. We want to host him in Moscow, he is welcome – we are waiting.”
Nurmagomedov returned from his post-UFC 229 suspension and retained his UFC lightweight title with a third-round rear-naked choke finish of Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi. And, with the MMA world on tenterhooks waiting to see if the UFC will revisit the oft-booked, but never-fulfilled matchup between Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson, Abdulmanap had words of optimism, both for Ferguson and the fans hoping to finally see that fight come to fruition.
“Before McGregor we should finish our business with Ferguson,” he stated. “Because he had 28 fights, and runs a 12-fight winning streak in the UFC, just like Khabib. Such winning streaks and such big fights have never happened in the UFC.
“So I think Madison Square Garden is a good place for this fight, but we won’t fight earlier than March.”
