This is hugely encouraging.
Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov are on a collision course and only something untoward will stop them from fighting for the UFC’s lightweight belt.
The only issue is, when you look at the pair over the past few years, you would rule nothing in nor out.
‘The Eagle’ has had injury and weight-cut issues that have nixed potential fights while McGregor’s life is filled with dramatic highs, lows, cage invasions, PR duties, birthday bashes, record-breaking boxing crossovers and assaults on mini buses. Put simply, don’t count your chickens until you see both men inside an Octagon and with Bruce Buffer bellowing his head off.
McGregor was due to meet UFC president Dana White on June 18 but it is unclear whether that went ahead after the Dubliner was scheduled in for a re-appearance in front of a judge at the Brooklyn Circuit Court in late July. McGregor apologised for his actions during the assault on a bus, at a pre UFC 223 media event, and expected to make a plea agreement.
The delay caused by the ongoing legal matter may stall the UFC’s plans to pair McGregor and Nurmagomedov off at a pay-per-view event in Las Vegas this September. However, at an event with Robin Black and John Kavanagh, McGregor’s coach, at Dublin’s Liberty Hall there was some encouraging news.
Asked by Black about a 155lbs title fight for his man, Kavanagh commented:
“I would almost bet anything that fight happens before the end of the year.”
McGregor has not fought in the UFC since November 2016, when he won the lightweight belt by comprehensively defeating Eddie Alvarez at Madison Square Garden.
‘The Notorious’ remained the champion for over 500 days before Nurmagomedov’s handy win over Al Iaquinta won him the ‘undisputed’ belt.
In a recent interview with Russian site Sport24, Nurmagomedov said:
“The fight will likely take place in Las Vegas. I want to fight McGregor; the fans are also waiting for this fight. I hope that Conor wants this fight…
“In what round will I be able to knock McGregor out? I do not know, and no one can know this. I’m going to destroy him.”
Kavanagh’s comments in Dublin on Friday suggest we will get to see one of the biggest title and PPV fights in the promotions history in the coming months.
