UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and UFC Interim Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje were reportedly set to meet at UFC 253, but Khabib’s father passed away and those plans were scrapped.
Ali Abdelaziz says that his client in Nurmagomedov wanted Gaethje to fight former two division UFC champion Conor McGregor while waiting for him to return, but Gaethje turned the opportunity down.
“Khabib told me to tell Justin to go fight Conor. Justin said no,” Abdelaiziz said to TMZ Sports (via Adam Guillen Jr. of MMA Mania). “Conor, right now, he can be a back up fighter, he can go make weight and maybe he can make some money. Conor, he can go fight Nate, fight Masvidal. We’re not interested in fighting him.”
McGregor retired again a short time after UFC 250 and has no plans to return at this time.
Abdelaziz also says a rematch between Nurmagomedov and McGregor is possible, but McGregor needs some wins first.
“He needs to get some wins and he needs to fight some good opponents,” Abdelaziz said. “I said the only way he fights Khabib is if he fights Islam Makhachev. Then Khabib will fight him.”
There is no word yet as to when Nurmagomedov vs. Gaethje will happen, but Abdelaziz says the title bout will take place sometime this year.
