With wins for both at UFC 205, Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov are likely next up for one another.
McGregor has the chance to claim lightweight gold when he meets champion Eddie Alvarez in the main event of the UFC’s debut in Madison Square Garden while Nurmagomedov can solidify his status as number one contender with his 24th consecutive career victory if he gets past Michael Johnson on the November 12 card.
The Dagestani is one of many fighters unhappy with the fact that ‘The Notorious’ got the next crack at the 155lbs title and he remains utterly convinced that he was used as a bargaining tool for the promotion as it aimed to reduce the costs of putting together the night’s headliner.
According to Nurmagomedov’s father and coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, ‘The Eagle’ was played so that the UFC could pay less for the services of McGregor and Alvarez.
McGregor reportedly wanted $7 million for the fight, while Alvarez wanted $1 million, but when the UFC threatened to give Nurmagomedov the title shot, neither fighter could command such a high pricetag.
“By sending a contract to Khabib, the UFC has reduced the overall cost of UFC 205 by $4 million. According to rumours, McGregor wanted to fight for six or seven million, and Alvarez for one million,” Abdulmanap told Match TV, as translated by Bloody Elbow. “At this point, Habib was sent two contracts and he signed them.
“Alvarez with McGregor then calmed down because nobody wanted to fight Khabib. As a result, Alvarez will earn $500,000 and McGregor around $3.5 million. There are some bonuses, but the fact is that they have halved the fees. That’s for sure.”
According to the father of ‘The Eagle’, the UFC also offered Nurmagomedov a fee of $100,000 as something of a peace offering for using the undefeated lightweight as a negotiating tool but that he turned it down, instead accepting a fight against Michael Johnson.
He said: “Khabib was offered $100,000 compensation for the cancelled fight. He refused, and said: ‘Give me the opportunity to fight the best.’ On the same evening, he was offered a fight with Michael Johnson for the same fee.”
Nurmagomedov is one of the most devastating 155lbers in the world, and he holds a win over former champion Rafael dos Anjos, so it would be hard to deny the Dagestan native a title shot if he beats Johnson at UFC 205.
If McGregor, who has been told that he must vacate one title if he beats Alvarez, and Nurmagomedov were to meet then it would arguably be the biggest UFC fight to date given both fighters’ hardcore followings.
“UFC thinks Conor has power?” Khabib recently told The Luke Thomas Show, “Ireland only has like 6 million people. I am from Russia, 150 million people. If UFC don’t give me the title fight after this fight, I’m going to show how I have power in Russia and I know if I don’t fight for the title next fight, UFC will never ever go to Russia.”
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