Finally, the UFC May Have Decided Their Next Lightweight Title Fight. Keep an eye out for Conor McGregor stripped news next…
Arguably it is the most stacked division in the entire UFC roster, with a talent pool containing some of the most exciting fighters from across the world. But it’s been held up since 12 November 2016, when Conor McGregor defeated Eddie Alvarez to take the division’s crown.
Change might finally be on the horizon. The UFC signalled that they were ready to move forward without their champion last October at UFC 216. That night Tony Ferguson claimed the interim championship against Kevin Lee, and called on McGregor to “defend or vacate”.
Originally his opponent was meant to be the unbeaten Khabib Nurmagamedov.The Russian’s well documented weight-cut issues resulted in that match-up being cancelled. However, the man from Dagestan has changed his camp, hiring a nutritionist, and now it looks like a fight against Ferguson could be on the cards again.
Tired of Waiting
McGregor’s inactivity has been the source of frustration for fans and fighters alike. The root of the problem is that the UFC allowed him to box Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas, his only fight in 2017. That single appearance earned him an estimated $100 million, a figure that he’ll never match in the UFC. He’s happy to spend his millions while the UFC debate whether or not they should break the bank to bring him back.
With confirmed news that Max Holloway will headline UFC 222 against Frankie Edgar in March, it means that McGregor is unlikely to return before May 2018. Even if the fight between Nurmagamedov and Ferguson is billed as an eliminator to fight McGregor, medical suspensions could occur.
Before you know it, it’s the end of 2018 and McGregor still hasn’t defended his title. If the UFC is to maintain any credibility, he would surely be stripped of the belt by then. A money-spinning trilogy fight against Nate Diaz is looking more and more likely: if he ever comes back to the UFC.
Major News
It’s looking more and more likely that the UFC just might not bother with McGregor. A Dagestani publication, vk.com, has reported:
“Hearing: Khabib Nurmagamedov vs Tony Ferguson in development on April 7th” (Translated).
While this is by no means an official announcement, it must be taken seriously. The Dagestan website has a reputation as a reliable regional publication and has released accurate news about the Nurmagamedov brothers in the past.
Khabib Spells Danger
Some analysts think that by giving Nurmagamedov the chance to take the interim title from Ferguson, the UFC is setting up a massive showdown between the Dagestani and McGregor in Russia.
UFC President Dana White has made no secret of the fact that he wants to make an impact in the MMA-obsessed nation. McGregor is a massive hit in the country and was famously offered Russian citizenship and a bucket load of cash to fight there before.
However, Nurmagamedov is regarded as a nightmare match-up for ‘The Notorious’. The Russian’s high-pressure sambo style has shut down top level strikers like Michael Johnson and Edson Barboza in the past. It’s clear that a potential fight between Nurmagamedov and Ferguson will not be good news for Conor McGregor.
