The champion has reiterated something that he has previously stated, which is that the next lightweight title defense will happen in Russia.
“It will be in March or April,” he said at the Synergy Forum (via RT Sport). “I said it clearly – I want to fight in a large arena, and the only large indoor arena in Russia is Gazprom Arena (in St. Petersburg). So I want to fight there.”
There have been two UFC events already in the country of Russia and a third is scheduled to take place next month.
If Nurmagomedov gets his wish to fight in Russia, a likely opponent is going to be former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion Tony Ferguson.
“From a fighter’s point of view, (the McGregor rivalry) is a thing of the past,” he said. “I have nothing to prove. But he has something to prove. We know he does. There’s a lot of businessmen here and I think most of them will tell me to fight him because it’ll bring money. I’d fight all the main contenders first, and I could fight him to benefit my agricultural projects. I have to say that Tony Ferguson deserves it more. You have to give him credit. He is on a 12-fight win streak and he deserves it more than Conor. Conor has to come back (and) stop hitting old people. He is a professional fighter. He should come back, win, earn his place and get in line.”
Ferguson and Nurmagomedov have been scheduled to meet in the UFC multiple times in the past, but injuries have prevented those bouts from taking place.
