UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov seems to have no interest in rematches with Conor McGregor or Dustin Poirier for that matter.
Nurmagomedov is set to face Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 this weekend in a much-awaited lightweight title unification clash. Should he come out on top as many observers expect, the question will be who Nurmagomedov should face next.
When it comes to the lightweight division, the only viable answer right now is the winner of the proposed McGregor vs. Poirier fight slated for January 23. Although “The Eagle” has claimed he would never rematch McGregor, he did suggest for him to face Poirier to be in the conversation in the first place.
However, speaking in a recent interview, it appears Nurmagomedov has no interest in facing either competitor again as he is only looking for new opponents that will add to his legacy — Gaethje being one of them.
“About both of them, I finished both of them,” Nurmagomedov said on ESPN’s First Take. “I finished in dominant position with dominant performances. I’m not interested in both of these guys because I need something new. New blood, new energy. Justin Gaethje give me new motivation. He’s the real deal. Right now, he’s the interim champion, he’s a very tough guy.
“If I think about Dustin and Conor, they don’t give me good energy, they don’t give me motivation. Fight for what? For my legacy? I already put these guys on my desk. I already beat them. Everything finished with these guys. I need a new someone.”
Perhaps that new someone could be Tony Ferguson, if not Georges St-Pierre.