Khabib Nurmagamedov’s Coach Javier Mendez Accepts That His Fighter Needs to Fight Conor McGregor to be Respected…
Unless you’ve been living under a rock you know that Khabib Nurmagamedov is the new UFC lightweight champion. After a week of mayhem at UFC 224, the Russian won the undisputed belt, after beating Al Iaquinta, the No. 10 ranked lightweight fighter.
Since then there has naturally been a lot of speculation about when Nurmagamedov will return to the cage. His most natural match-up is Conor McGregor. ‘The Notorious threw a dolly through a bus window at him. They’re both professional fighters with massive and devoted fanbases. In MMA math, that’s the equation for a super fight.
One of the major criticisms of Khabib’s short reign as champion is that he has yet to beat a top fighter. Tony Ferguson has been a major critic – as you’d expect after he got stripped of the interim title. Now Javier Mendez, Khabib’s coach, has said that to be the best, the Dagestani will have to beat Conor McGregor.
Glorious Legacy
Fighters fight for two reasons: money and glory. The two usually come together, especially when Conor McGregor is involved. Whatever you might think about him for not defending his titles, he remains the only man to hold two UFC titles simultaneously, as well as being involved in one of the most lucrative fights of all time, against Floyd Mayweather.
“I think that the asterisk will be Conor,” Mendez told Express Sport. Because he’ll have to fight Conor to really in everybody’s eyes be considered the best lightweight. Even though I consider him the best lightweight. But to be honest, a lot of people won’t consider him to be the best until they clash. Unless Conor moves up in weight or retires.”
Tony Ferguson is probably in his living room screaming right now, but you take Mendez’s point. ‘The Eagle’ needs to fight the best to be considered the best. Yes, he has an absolutely phenomenal record of 26-0. That’s outstanding in MMA. But has he been truly tested by an elite all-rounder?
McGregor Situation
Conor McGregor hasn’t fought in the UFC since 2016 but he is making all the right noises about a return. Especially now that he’s facing multiple lawsuits. Those bills won’t pay themselves. No action has been taken towards him by the UFC for his insanity before UFC 223. It all rests on June 14th’s verdict in New York, when he returns to court.
“As long as Conor is still in the game and it was his title, people are going to say, ‘What if? What if?’ And rightly so,” Mendez ended.
He’s right. This fight has to happen. Excitement resulted following the news that the UFC had officially announced their first event in Russia. UFC Fight Night Moscow will take place on September 15. Expect Khabib to be in attendance. Get Artem Lobov on that card and you’ve got fireworks.
Sells Itself
This fight sells itself and by it’s fair to conclude that both camps want it to happen – if they can get through complex negotiations. The fight is tentatively being aimed for Las Vegas later this year. Who would win? Well, that’s a more complicated question to answer.
Khabib’s style is seen as kryptonite for McGregor, who has struggled against wrestlers in the past. However, the Irishman has the knockout power to put away anyone below 170lbs – except Nate Diaz. If it happens it could be the biggest UFC fight of all time.
