Conor McGregor: Khabib reveals why he won’t give Notorious a rematch, roasts rival
KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV has doubled down on his decision not to give Conor McGregor a rematch.
Khabib says he could get year-long ban after McGregor brawl
Nurmagomedov successfully defended his lightweight title against his predecessor at the summit of the 155lbs division last October in the main event of UFC 229.
Hours after being forced to submit to a fourth-round neck crank, McGregor began publicly campaigning for a rematch with the undefeated Russian.
The UFC brass are seemingly open to granting the Irishman’s wish, but only if he wins his next fight and Nurmagomedov retains his title in his next outing, which is expected to be against Tony Ferguson.
Nurmagomedov, however, isn’t keen on giving McGregor a shot at redemption and poured cold water on a rematch last week.
“We’ll see,” Nurmagomedov told Nine News Sydney with a wry smile on his face when asked about a potential rematch. “He didn’t deserve this.
“Rematch for what? Before the last fight, he talk too. But when we go to the inside of the cage, he just, he don’t do nothing.”
The undefeated Nurmagomedov justified his stance during an interview with Submission Radio, in which he claimed McGregor was unworthy of a rematch because he 'tapped'.
“I have a big team. You know, my father, Javier Mendez, my management. And everybody thinks a little bit different,” Nurmagomedov said when asked his coach’s interest in a rematch with ‘The Notorious’.
I dominated him everywhere in every aspect and I beat him. Like I told, I smashed him. Why we need a rematch?
“If you talk about it, my father thinks different, Javier [Mendez] thinks different, my management thinks different.
“But when the athletic commission makes a decision, we’re gonna sit with my old team and make a decision what I’m gonna do next.
“But right now, if you guys ask me, of course, he [Conor McGregor does] not deserve a title shot rematch, Conor, because he lose, he tapped.
“It wasn’t a close fight. I dominated him everywhere in every aspect and I beat him. Like I told, I smashed him. Why we need a rematch?”
The immediate futures of Nurmagomedov and McGregor are currently unknown as they’re both awaiting punishment from the Nevada State Athletic Commission for their parts in the brawl which followed their grudge match, a melee the lightweight champion ignited.
The duo - both 30 - were supposed to be sanctioned on December 10 but were granted continuances.
The NSAC are expected to reprimand the bitter rivals next Tuesday during their first meeting of the year.
Nurmagomedov is bracing himself for a 12-month suspension, telling Submission Radio: “Honestly, I don’t know nothing about my comeback.
"We have to wait.
“Next week, the end of this month, the end of January, they’re going to make a decision about my future.
"Maybe they’re going to give me nine months or one year. I don’t know.”
“I will see when they make [a] decision - how many months they’re going to give me for a suspension - and then we’re going to make a plan. Right now, we don’t know nothing.”