Conor McGregor yells out to the crowd at the UFC 246 weigh ins. Photo Credit: Reuters
Dana White says Khabib Nurmagomedov is next for Conor McGregor not Jorge Masvidal
It appears Conor McGregor vs. Jorge Masvidal will not be happening anytime soon.
After McGregor knocked out Cerrone in 40 seconds at UFC 246 many assumed the Masvidal fight made sense. Yet, UFC president Dana White was not a fan and wants to see McGregor-Nurmagomedov 2.
“There’s always somebody fun that can match up with Conor and everybody wants to fight Conor,” White said at the UFC 246 post fight press conference (via MMA Fighting). “Everybody’s wanted to fight Conor for the last however many years. When you look at what makes sense, we’re at a place where Conor was saying going into the Khabib fight, he had a lot of personal stuff. Some stuff self-inflicted, he had injuries and he had all these things going on, and he has been obsessed with getting that rematch, because he knows that he wasn’t 100 percent right.
“When you look at this for Khabib — Khabib is 28-0, he’s undefeated, and you start talking about this kid’s legacy. First of all, to 28-0 in this sport, I don’t care who you fought, it’s tough to do. Well, this guy’s a world champion. After tonight and with how Khabib won the fight the first time and how famous Khabib has become since that first fight, we’re looking at [Marvin] Hagler-[Tommy] Hearns. [Muhammad] Ali-[George] Foreman. Ali-[Joe] Frazier. This is a massive fight with global appeal. It’s the fight that you make. It’s the fight that makes sense. It’s the fight for the 155-pound title.”
Part of the reason why White is reluctant to do Conor McGregor vs. Jorge Masvidal is no title would be on the line except for the BMF belt. So, for that reason, the Nurmagomedov rematch is the fight to make.
“If Conor and Masvidal fight, neither one of them even has a title, although Conor does want his “BMF” title. But, he doesn’t have a world championship,” White said. “Khabib’s the fight to make. It’s huge for Khabib’s legacy, too. If he beat Conor McGregor, and then he beats Tony Ferguson, and then he beats Conor McGregor again, this is how this kid when he retires, he’s 30-something and 0 and he’s beat all the best.
“I’m telling you right now Khabib versus Conor is the biggest fight in the company and the sport’s history, but I think it might rival Conor and Floyd [Mayweather].”
