Khabib Nurmagomedov capped off 2016 with a third round submission win of Michael Johnson at UFC 205 in Madison Square Garden. However, the top-ranked lightweight
“I want to beat Tony Ferguson, take the interim bullsh*t belt, and I will fight with Conor for real belt,” Nurmagomedov said on The MMA Hour. “This is what I want to make in 2017.”
Nurmagmedov believes that if a fight with McGregor does come to pass, it would probably take place in Las Vegas or New York, but he’s not counting out Russia as a location.
“I think if I fight with Conor, UFC makes it New York or Vegas. Madison Square Garden or T-Mobile Arena, because these are two biggest arena for pay-per-view shows,” he said. “Russia, not good for pay-per-view, Ireland, not good for pay-per-view. Here, everybody understands this sport and good fights, but number one, UFC is a business, they’re in business to make money. But if you make this fight in Russia, Moscow, Sochi or maybe Dagestan, then maybe 100,000 [fans]. Why not? I fight in Russia, and I have to say, Conor is famous in Russia too. I think 100 percent we would sell all those tickets.”
Nurmagomedov hasn’t competed since the aforementioned UFC 205 event, McGregor won the lightweight title at the same event by defeating Eddie Alvarez. He'll take on Tony Ferguson for the interim UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 209 in March.
