Javier Mendez is one of Nurmagomedov’s coaches at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) and he would like to see a potential rematch between the two happen at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas.
“Now’s the time, to be honest with you,” Mendes said on Off The Brawl (via MMA Fighting). “We don’t know with Conor, he’s so rich with his Proper 12. I hear it’s doing fantastic. He’s got a great image, bro. He appears to be a helluva businessman. Now’s the time to strike while the iron is hot, I say Cowboys Stadium. That would do the pay-per-view numbers; that would do everything. I think now is the time to consider doing something like that. It would be the right place for a stadium show. Vegas would be the right place if they built the Raiders stadium in time, but that won’t be built in time.”
It could be awhile before either McGregor or Nurmagomedov fights again, as both are still awaiting punishment from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) for the UFC 229 post-fight brawl.
Mendez also admits that he may not know what is next for Nurmagomedov, which is something only the champion’s father may know.
“Khabib may very well have one idea, and I’ll have something else, which is usually the case, but the person with the best thoughts on what Khabib’s going to do is his father,” Mendes said. “Nobody else has that closeness to him. After his father it’s me or Ali [Abdelaziz], or me and Ali. But as far as what he wants to do, it’s going to come down to basically what Khabib wants. It might not matter what the UFC wants with the Conor and Khabib rematch.”
Nurmagomedov has also hinted at fighting former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion Tony Ferguson next, but nothing is going to get announced until the NSAC hearing concludes later this month.
