UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov doesn’t see a point in running things back with either Conor McGregor or Dustin Poirier.
McGregor (22-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) and Poirier (26-6 MMA, 18-5 UFC) are expected to rematch Jan. 23 in what could determine the No. 1 contender at 155 pounds. But Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC), who faces Justin Gaethje in Saturday’s UFC 254 main event, doesn’t see why the winner should face him – assuming he gets by Gaethje.
“I don’t think I’m gonna give these guys a rematch or something like this,” Nurmagomedov told UFC Arabia. “They don’t deserve this. I fight with them both, I finish both of them, and these fights don’t give me good energy. For example, vs. Justin Gaethje, it’s like I can’t wait. This fight makes me excited, but Dustin or Conor, these guys don’t make me excited because I already beat them. Why I have to fight with them?”
In his first title defense, Nurmagomedov submitted Conor McGregor in the fourth round at UFC 229, followed by a third round submission of Dustin Poirier at UFC 242. Both performances were dominant.
Nurmagomedov initially took issue with McGregor vs. Poirier happening at welterweight, claiming that if either wanted a title shot, they should compete at lightweight. But now it appears that Nurmagomedov doesn’t think a rematch with either one of them makes sense.