Ali Abdelaziz Says Khabib Nurmagomedov Wants To Defend The Lightweight Title 3 Times In Next 11 Months
UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov last defended the gold against Conor McGregor at UFC 229, scoring a fourth round submission victory.
Ali Abdelaziz is Nurmagomedov’s agent and he says the champion would like to defend the title three times in the next eleven months.
“He gave me very specific instructions,” Abdelaziz told ESPN. “He said he wants to fight Sept. 7 and again in December. And if [former welterweight champion] Georges St-Pierre can figure things out with the UFC by April, that’s the deal. He would like that fight in April.”
Nurmagomedov is already in the mist of observing Ramadan, which will last from Sunday, May 5 until Tuesday, June 4.
McGregor would like another shot at the lightweight gold, but Abdelaziz says he needs to fight other contenders first.
“To be honest, Conor is going to have to go out there and fight somebody like Justin Gaethje, Tony Ferguson or Cowboy [Donald Cerrone],” Abdelaziz said. “He’s not a worthy enough opponent right now. That’s the feeling from all of us, as a team.”
The lightweight champion is still serving a suspension for his role in the UFC 229 post-fight brawl, with that suspension ending in the next two months.
