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LAS VEGAS — Conor McGregor did not point out a selected opponent he’d need subsequent after beating Donald Cerrone in simply 40 seconds Saturday evening in the primary match of UFC 246 at T-Cell Area. It was once some other out-of-character second in an out-of-character week for the fighter nicknamed “The Infamous.”
“I don’t believe ‘the who’ issues,” McGregor stated on the postfight information convention.
UFC president Dana White, even though, didn’t proportion that sentiment. For White, there’s one and just one foe that are meant to be subsequent for McGregor: Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov, the undefeated UFC light-weight champion and one of the most best pound-for-pound warring parties on the planet, beat McGregor through fourth-round submission at UFC 229 in October 2018. It was once the highest-selling pay-per-view in UFC historical past, fueled through the dangerous blood between the 2 males.
That feud led to a couple unsightly moments, together with McGregor throwing a dolly via a bus window, and the postfight UFC 229 melee that ended in McGregor, Nurmagomedov and contributors in their groups being suspended and fined through the Nevada State Athletic Fee (NSAC).
Even regardless of a few of the ones purple flags, White says he believes McGregor going for a rematch towards the person who beat him — and the person who has the belt he used to carry — is the transparent subsequent battle. Regardless that McGregor has a lot of choices, together with BMF champion Jorge Masvidal, White says he thinks Nurmagomedov is the person.
“We are having a look at Hagler-Hearns,” White stated. “We are having a look at like Ali-Foreman, Ali-Frazier. This can be a large battle with world attraction. It is the battle you are making, it is the battle that is smart. It is for the 155-pound identify.
“If Conor and Masvidal battle, neither certainly one of them even has a identify. Despite the fact that Conor does need his BMF identify. He does not have an international championship. So Khabib is the battle to make. It is massive for Khabib’s legacy, too. If he beat Conor McGregor, then he beats Tony Ferguson, then he beats Conor McGregor once more, I imply that is how this child, when he retires, he is 30-something-and-oh and he is overwhelmed the entire easiest.”
Nurmagomedov defends his identify towards Ferguson at UFC 249 on April 18 in Brooklyn, in order that gifts a drawback to White’s plan. If Ferguson wins, White says he believes McGregor would wish to battle him as a result of he needs the identify again. McGregor has expressed passion in Ferguson, as neatly.
On Saturday evening, McGregor was once noncommittal. He expressed worry about no longer in need of to stay up for Nurmagomedov to go back after the Ferguson bout. McGregor says he needs to battle thrice this 12 months. and that might throw a monkey wrench into White’s plan.
McGregor stated he’ll keep in Las Vegas till subsequent week and sit down down with White and previous UFC proprietor Lorenzo Fertitta to discuss the long run.
“OK, the light-weight identify shall be there,” McGregor stated. “You notice the adaptation in [my] body, the preparation and that. That can come round, that shot.”
There may be additionally an issue to be made that McGregor will have to no longer also be subsequent in line for the light-weight identify. Others reminiscent of Justin Gaethje have executed sufficient to earn a shot at Nurmagomedov.
After all, there are compelling causes for Nurmagomedov-McGregor 2. White says he believes that rematch will be the largest battle in UFC historical past, that it would do higher than three million pay-per-view buys and may just “rival” McGregor’s boxing fit towards Floyd Mayweather when it comes to benefit.
“There may be numerous various things that make sense that you’ll want to do,” White stated. “I have gotta see what [McGregor] needs to do. I do know he needs this battle, and I believe he is keen to attend to get it.
“Glance, do I wish to see Conor battle thrice this 12 months? Certain. Do I wish to see Masvidal towards Conor? Certain. However you’ve gotten gotta do what is smart, too. And I simply actually assume the Khabib-Conor battle is huge for either one of their legacies and clearly for the game.”
