While McGregor has hinted at wanting a bout with Jorge Masvidal in the past, it is a rematch with UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov that McGregor wants more according to UFC President Dana White.
“Here’s the thing: Realistically, Conor believes that Khabib vs. Tony Ferguson will not happen,” White told TMZ Sports (via Farah Hannoun of MMA Junkie). “We’ve tried to do this fight many, many times. Conor believes it won’t happen. Conor wanted to do this fight (with Cerrone) at 170 because he wants to turn right around and jump in and fight Khabib if that fight (with Ferguson) doesn’t happen. So again, we’ll see how this plays out. We’ll see what happens after this, and Conor is very focused on that rematch with Khabib.”
Nurmagomedov and McGregor met for the first time at UFC 229, with Nurmagomedov scoring a fourth round submission win on that night. Nurmagomedov is scheduled to defend the lightweight title against Tony Ferguson in the main event of UFC 249 and White has previously stated that McGregor could face the winner of that encounter.
UFC 246 takes place on Saturday, January 18 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with Conor McGregor and Donald Cerrone headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
