After watching Khabib Nurmagomedov (pictured) steamroll Edson Barboza at UFC 219, many in the MMA world couldn’t help but think Nurmagomedov is the best lightweight in the game.
Instead of requesting a tango with UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor after bumping his record to a perfect 25-0, Nurmagomedov chose to call out interim UFC lightweight champ Tony Ferguson because he thinks McGregor won’t want to return to action until after he blows through the reported $100 million bankroll he scored in August’s blockbuster boxing match with Floyd Mayweather.
McGregor captured the UFC lightweight belt in November 2016 and hasn’t been seen inside the cage since. Worst of all, there’s no end to his hiatus in sight. However, that doesn’t mean McGregor isn’t keeping a close eye on “The Eagle.”
Here’s a look at the exchange the rivals had on Twitter:
Shut up #tapMashine #🐓
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) January 1, 2018
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) January 1, 2018
You can buy them on Gucci store
But in the octagon bear will eat you.#McTapper #🐻vs🐓 pic.twitter.com/O2Qo0HhZab— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) January 2, 2018
😂😂😂@danawhite @seanshelby @arielhelwani @AliAbdelaziz00 #McTapper pic.twitter.com/ontkuJ8WE6
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) January 2, 2018
Ferguson has earned himself a money fight against McGregor, and he’s adamant that he wants to wait for the UFC’s cash cow, even though nothing is immanent. It will be interesting to see how the UFC plans on pushing McGregor to get back to work.
It’s an unfortunate situation for Nurmagomedov, as the injury prone grappler is finally healthy for the first time in 13 months.