UFC Lightweight Contender Khabib Nurmagamedov Gets Into a Scuffle With Conor McGregor’s Training Partner, Artem Lobov…
Khabib Nurmagamedov has had a busy time lately. The Russian Sambo fighter learned on Monday that he would be fighting Max Holloway instead of Tony Ferguson at UFC 223 on Saturday. The pair will duke it out for the UFC lightweight championship.
Nurmagamedov vs Ferguson had been booked three times previously. So after being canceled for the fourth time, you can understand the sense of disbelief from Khabib’s camp. However, it doesn’t change much for him. He’ll now face Holloway, the UFC featherweight champion, who has only recently returned from injury.
However, Holloway wasn’t Khabib’s first choice replacement opponent. Nope, that honor belonged to a certain Mr. Conor McGregor. The Irishman will be stripped of his lightweight belt on Saturday due to inactivity. Now video footage has emerged of Khabib having an altercation with McGregor’s teammate and training partner, Artem Lobov.
Unbelievable
Khabib is one of the most exciting and terrifying fighters in the world. His immaculate record speaks for itself.The Dagestani shuts down his opponents. His last two, Edson Barboza and Michael Johnson, were both excellent strikers, who he brutalized.
The question of who would win between McGregor and Khabib has always been one of the great mysteries of MMA. There is a lot of excited speculation that should ‘the Eagle’ win against Holloway, the pair will get it on in Russia. This would be sensational if it were to happen, and with McGregor due to return this year, it very well could.
Showdown
It seems like Khabib has already started the mind-games. A video taken by Sikjitsu head coach Rick Little shows footage of an altercation between Nurmagamedov and Artem Lobov. Lobov is Conor McGregor’s training partner as well as a UFC fighter in his own right. The Russian lives in Dublin, Ireland and has a less than immaculate record, with 14 losses.
As they’re speaking aggressively in Russian to each other, it’s unclear what they’re talking about. The duo had to be separated several times by their companions, so they obviously weren’t asking each other the time.
Both men are on the UFC 223 card. Nurmagamedov is headlining, while Lobov takes on Alex Caceres in the prelims. More interestingly than Lobov’s fight is the implications. Conor McGregor is known to be extremely loyal to his teammates. When they fight, he suddenly appears in octagons. Keep your eyes peeled on Saturday folks.
Mind Games
While the altercation did not get physical, Nurmagamedov showed that he does not care what anybody thinks about him. Imagine if Khabib and Artem did fight? They’d be finding Lobov’s limbs all over Brooklyn.
It is exciting times for the UFC lightweight division. Back on track again, it’s actually bee made even more interesting by the introduction of Holloway, who looks to emulate McGregor by holding two UFC titles at the same time, and in the same order. If he wins, he has promised to defend both belts.
That won’t happen if Khabib gets his way. With his immaculate record and a style, nobody has been able to figure out yet, it would take a brave or possibly stupid person to bet against him. It’s Khabib time.
