Who will be Khabib Nurmagomedov's next opponent? Alexander Shlemenko: I was surprised that people from Khabib’s corner attacked Conor
Former champion Bellator Alexander Shlemenko shared his opinion on the fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor for the UFC lightweight champion belt.
– You are now in California. Didn't manage to attend Nurmagomedov's fight in Las Vegas?
- No. I didn't plan to visit it. It was uncomfortable. I'm preparing for a fight.
– What do they say in the USA about the fight and what happened after it?
- I have just woke up. Haven't looked at the press yet. The Americans with whom I watched the fight were very surprised. This doesn't happen very often in the US. The fight turned out to be spectacular. Many people liked it. And I assumed that Conor would look worse in this fight. He surprised me very much.
Rustam Kerimov: Khabib only has to defeat Ferguson and he can retire
- From a pleasant point of view?
- You can say so. I thought that Conor would not be able to oppose Khabib at all. But in the first round he defended himself quite well from the fight. The third round seems to be his. This doesn’t always happen in Khabib’s fights.
– Is this actually an achievement?
- Well, you can’t really say that.
– How do you like McGregor’s behavior at the press conference? Whiskey advertising and Khabib's refusal.
– Can you imagine Nurmagomedov tasting Conor’s whiskey for the whole world? This couldn't happen. In this regard, I fully support Khabib. Alcohol should not enter the body of a healthy and thinking person in any quantity. Correct example.
“That’s why I’m asking.” At the press conference, he showed restraint and filed correct example, and after the battle it turned out quite the opposite.
– It’s difficult for me to give an assessment because I wasn’t there. I don’t know what happened or how they talked. Only Khabib can answer why he attacked Dillon Denis. I was more surprised that people from Khabib’s corner attacked Conor. Why? Still, Conor admitted defeat. He was defeated. And finish him off? And so we know that Conor has an impudent team and it’s hard to restrain himself.
“Our fighters are not comfortable with such behavior.” Kharitonov about the brawl in Las Vegas
– Nurmagomedov’s fee has already been frozen. Are there more serious consequences possible - deprivation of the title, disqualification, refusal to issue a visa?
– It’s difficult to speak for the Americans. From my experience I can say that the most important thing for any American is money. Therefore, it seems to me that the most realistic outcome is deprivation of part of the fee.
– Does a second fight suggest itself after such an ending?
– I would be more interested in a fight with Tony Ferguson. I don't think Conor could have prepared better. He had a chance. He admitted defeat. He admitted it himself when he knocked. The story itself does not suggest itself.
Ferguson is another matter. Let's be objective, this is the strongest fighter in the division after Khabib. This particular fight would be interesting from the point of view of sport and confrontation. It's an interesting show with Conor.
– Ferguson defeated Anthony Pettis and gave the impression of an indestructible machine. Everyone knew McGregor's strengths and weaknesses before the fight. What weaknesses does Ferguson have? Do they exist?
- The fact of the matter is that he doesn’t have enough weaknesses. This is not to say that he is highly developed in any way. But he is very well developed in everything - wrestling, striking, kicking, elbows, knees. He is well developed in all aspects and uses his skills well. At the same time, he has a strong head. He misses strong blows and doesn't get lost. There was also such a moment in the fight with Pettis. And he had fallen before. Then comes the comeback.
– What should we focus on in the fight with Ferguson? Is it possible to impose your will on him?
– If we talk about Khabib, he has an advantage in wrestling. He can take position and control. He can win on points. This is an advantage. Khabib's wrestling is a skill that is difficult for anyone to cope with.
– Alexander Volkov lost his fight. Was it relaxation or something else?
– I don’t think it’s relaxation. Alexander was concentrated. I never saw him relaxed at all. The only thing is, maybe he wanted to finish Derrick Lewis too much. To win more brightly and beautifully, to put an end to it. At some moments it seemed to me that he was close to a knockout. Maybe Lewis was “pushing the picture” and tempting him, but it seemed like he was in pain. Just a little more and it will be over. Perhaps Alexander fell for this. And unfortunately I paid for it. We all understand perfectly well that we could have run back for 30 seconds.
I watched the fight. The first round, I think: “finishes.” I couldn't. Second round. The same picture. I think: “All victory belongs to Alexander.” The excitement disappeared a little. There is a minute and a half left - everything is fine. You yourself know what heavy weight is - everything is unpredictable. In ten seconds, Lewis played it all back. It's frustrating that there was so little time left.
– Has Volkov pushed himself far away from the title fight?
- Don't think. He went through a lot of people. Including former champion Fabricio Werdum. He stumbled, but now we need to see how he will be given a chance to return. It seems to me that he will be given a good fight. He's in the top 5 in the UFC. It will still be very close. There are not many bright contenders in heavyweight. He needs at least two nice victories.
For almost two weeks now, the UFC president has been answering questions about the future of the lightweight division and its champion. Who will be the next opponent? Are the rumors about Mayweather true? Will there be an instant rematch with McGregor? In a recent interview with ESPN, Dana White expressed his views on all these issues.
Instant revenge
As soon as “Notorious” knocked as a sign of surrender, the whole world began to discuss the possibility of a second fight with Khabib. The fight has enormous financial potential, which is important for the promotion. However, Dana noted that he had not yet thought about this fight.
“I haven’t even thought about a rematch with McGregor yet. I know that Conor wants a rematch, that's obvious. But we need to do everything correctly and honestly. We'll see how it all plays out, but we literally haven't thought about all this yet."
Money fight in boxing
Forget about the rumors about a potential confrontation between Khabib and Floyd Mayweather in the boxing ring. White was extremely categorical on this issue.
“Don't pay attention to all this. First of all, I’ll note that Mayweather’s team did not try to contact us at all. Khabib is under contract with the UFC, and we have not communicated with anyone from Mayweather's team. Floyd is very good when it comes to getting his name back on the front page.”
Honored Contender
Dana White once said that he would never again organize a Nurmagomedov-Ferguson fight. Apparently, the UFC president has already changed his mind.
“If you are a fight fan, you should look forward to the Tony fight. He had a belt (temporary, received at UFC 216, approx. Tony never lost the belt in a fight. It was the same with Conor, but Conor already got his opportunity to fight Nurmagomedov. I think Tony deserved the next chance."
Let us remember that Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov had to fight each other four times already. However, health problems that plagued one fighter after another did not allow them to meet in the Octagon. We can only hope that the fifth attempt will be successful and the curse will be broken.
There are two people with whom Khabib’s fight would be the event of the year for the UFC - better than Stipe Miocic against Daniel Cormier. This Georges Saint-Pierre And Conor McGregor. But we also must not forget about Tony Ferguson, whose fight with Nurmagomedov was disrupted four (!) times.
Khabib NURMAGOMEDOV vs. Georges SAINT-PIERRE. Photo "SE"
SAINT-PIERRE
Nurmagomedov himself spoke about his desire to fight St-Pierre, saying that he would like to fight the Canadian in November at Madison Square Garden. St. Pierre is a great (this is not an exaggeration) MMA fighter. 22 wins in the UFC and only two losses is a fantastic result.
In November 2013, Saint-Pierre retired. Four years later he returned, “strangling” Michael Bisping, becoming the middleweight champion, but then giving up the belt because he fell ill with colitis and did not want to “hold up the division.”
St-Pierre, with the exception of the fight with Bisping, fought his entire career in the welterweight division (up to 77 kg). And Khabib has little faith that he will agree to drop into the lightweight category (up to 70 kg).
12 years ago, when I competed in youth sambo tournaments in Dagestan, he fought for the title. I watched all of St. Pierre's fights. He is the greatest fighter in UFC history. This is the man who made history. My fight against St-Pierre is my father's dream. But if you ask me if he will return, I will answer: “No.” He is already 36 years old, he has achieved everything that is possible. Why should he return? - Nurmagomedov said at a press conference after the championship fight with, which took place on the night of April 8 in New York.
Soon Saint-Pierre also spoke out.
“It seems to me that the UFC and Khabib have unfinished business that needs to be completed before I enter the fight for the lightweight title,” the Canadian noted in a conversation with journalist Ariel Helwani.
It’s too early to put an end to it - we can agree on everything in the world, but for now the situation is such that there will be no fight between Nurmagomedov and Saint-Pierre. Perhaps never.
Khabib NURMAGOMEDOV vs. Conor McGregor. Photo "SE"
MCGREGOR
The story of Conor’s attack on a bus with UFC 223 participants, when he was allegedly “looking for Khabib,” looks like a PR campaign. Moreover, aimed at promoting the potential fight “Nurmagomedov vs. McGregor.”
Here are some arguments:
McGregor attacked the bus when there were security guards around. That is, a priori there was no chance that he would have managed to grapple with Khabib - they would have immediately separated him. Throwing a cart out the window was the most he could do.
Conor knew which hotel Nurmagomedov lived in in New York. No one would have stopped him from coming there, finding Khabib and trying to figure it out. But McGregor chose a shocking act - “for everyone to see.”
Some time ago the UFC published full version Conor's attacks - from a variety of angles. With a bloodied forehead Michael Chiesa close-up, telephone conversation on the bus. Did the UFC know in advance where McGregor would throw the cart that it installed a camera in front of Chiesa's chair?
McGregor eventually voluntarily appeared at the Brooklyn police station, after which he appeared in court. He was released on bail of $50,000. Compared to Conor's fees, this is not money.
Khabib, in turn, has repeatedly spoken out about McGregor, teasing the Irishman in every possible way. The Dagestani performed, for example, the following quotes: “Tell me the place, and we will meet. Without cameras and UFC,” “Let’s arrange a world promotional tour. Beg me.” He called Conor “chicken” and “Burger King.” But the main thing is that Nurmagomedov said that, one way or another, he would be interested in fighting McGregor, even if it is “a story about money, not about legacy.”
Of course, the idea of holding a fight between McGregor and Floyd Mayweather according to MMA rules. But the fight between Conor and Khabib is the most desired fight right now. And the UFC is an organization that, as a rule, takes into account the interests of fans.
Khabib NURMAGOMEDOV vs. Tony FERGUSON. Photo "SE"
FERGUSON
A tough fighter with 10 wins in a row. If their fight with Nurmagomedov takes place, it will certainly become a significant event, but not one that can be called historical; yet, Tony is not a UFC legend like St-Pierre, and not a show business star like McGregor.
Ferguson's fight with Nurmagomedov once again did not take place after the American was injured after tripping while walking. Dana White then said that he would never try to arrange a fight between them again.
Four times... Damn it, no way! - said the head of the UFC.
It is obvious that White uttered these words out of emotion. It will be strange if the UFC does not notice the merits of Ferguson, who held the lightweight title until the fight with Nurmagomedov fell through and the belt became vacant.
Plus, Tony poured tons of trash talk on Khabib (and continues to do so), fueling interest in their fight. Nurmagomedov, of course, also did not remain silent. So their fight is still one of those that would be very interesting to watch. If not Saint-Pierre and McGregor, then let it be Ferguson. I don’t think many will be upset if this actually happens.
OTHER OPTIONS
There are three of them. This Eddie Alvarez, Dustin Poirier And Justin Gaethje(the latter two will face each other on April 14). This strong fighters, but St-Pierre, McGregor and Ferguson do not yet match either in popularity or level. Although, if Poirier defeats Gaethje, his chances are championship fight in general they seem to be quite good - but, of course, a lot will depend on whether it will be possible to agree on a fight between Khabib and the above-mentioned tops.
Featherweight champion (up to 66 kg) Max Holloway, who was urgently called upon to replace Ferguson, but ultimately withdrew from the fight against Nurmagomedov for medical reasons, is not worth considering. Then force majeure happened, which is why he received an offer to compete for the title in a more difficult competition. weight category.
WHERE WILL THE FIGHT TAKE PLACE?
Nurmagomedov told SE that he will perform at the UFC show in Russia, which is planned for September, only if it is the main event and not a Fight Night series tournament.
The fact is that championship titles are not played out at the UFC Fight Night show, and the broadcasts are not carried out through Pay-per-view. Khabib is now a champion, and very popular in the USA - the fight with Iaquinta in New York, when the 17,000-strong audience chanted “Khabib! Khabib!” - clear proof of this.
What is the chance that the fight night in Moscow will be a UFC show and not Fight Night? It's very small.
Dana White has already said that Khabib’s fight at the tournament in Moscow is unlikely to take place. And Nurmagomedov’s manager, Ali Abdel-Aziz, confidently stated that the Moscow fight night will be Fight Night and nothing else. There are other facts showing that Khabib will not fight in the Russian capital. First, in Europe over the past five years there has been only one main UFC show - UFC 204 (October 8, 2016), the headliner of which was the fight between Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson. Secondly, it’s hard to imagine that in Russia, where people are accustomed to free sports broadcasts, anyone will spend money on PPV.
To summarize, it should be assumed that Khabib will make his first title defense in November. Maybe even Madison Square Garden. It remains to be seen - against whom.
The main event of UFC 229 ended with a confident victory by Khabib Nurmagomedov over Conor McGregor and a scandal that could make adjustments to the determination of the next best opponent Russian fighter MMA.
“You fought well, but two years of inactivity could not help but take its toll.” With these words, UFC boss Dana White tried to console his most profitable fighter. Conor McGregor lost. But matchmakers still consider him much more than Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The 229th numbered tournament put everything in its place. He left no question as to who is the most dominant UFC champion right now. But all this was more of a concern for MMA fans than for the Fertitta brothers and Dana. They will now have to work hard to save Conor’s reputation and continue to earn hundreds of millions of dollars from him. But before that, at least one issue needs to be resolved...
Who will be Khabib's next opponent?
The first thing that comes to mind is US legislation. Khabib choked Conor, then shouted something to him and ran out of the cage to deal with the Irishman’s team. More precisely, with one of McGregor's sparring partners. No, this is not Artem Lobov. We're talking about Dylan Denis. Throughout Conor’s preparatory camp, the self-proclaimed “boss of Bellator” tried to promote himself by insulting Nurmagomedov on social networks.
To some extent, he succeeded. He finally met Khabib in person, appeared in the most expensive broadcast in UFC history and left the T-Mobile arena accompanied by police. And it is Denis who can inflict much more damage on Nurmagomedov than Conor did during the fight. A few months ago, McGregor himself got into serious trouble with the law after the sensational story of an attack on a bus.
Khabib could get even more. Firstly, he did it in front of the whole world, in a crowded place. Secondly, the UFC values Conor much more than anyone else on its roster. Therefore, it is unlikely that Khabib will be “harnessed” as actively as was done during the consideration of McGregor’s “bus” case. Perhaps everything will work out, then we will witness this fight.
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Tony Ferguson
Khabib only needs one more win to finally become the UFC's most dominant champion. We are, of course, talking about Tony Ferguson. The case has remained pending since April. Then these rivals were supposed to meet, but the injury factor again intervened. This time El Cucuy took off.
For hardcore MMA fans, it is crystal clear that it is not McGregor, but Tony, who is the most dangerous opponent for Khabib. He is a much more well-rounded fighter than the Irishman, who was stylistically comfortable for the Russian. At UFC 229, Ferguson and Anthony Pettis were issued best fight evenings. Not by the poster, but by the content. Now Dana simply won’t be understood if, instead of a fight with Tony, he forces Khabib to have a rematch with Conor.
Tony Ferguson vs Conor McGregor
Today, perhaps, was the first time in UFC history that a champion did not receive the belt right in the octagon. It was clear how angry Dana was with Khabib’s actions. Yes, he explained his decision by not wanting to escalate the situation in the room, but it was more like a public punishment. It’s difficult to predict now, but if the Russian, for unsportsmanlike reasons, is unable to defend the title in the near future, then a meeting between Tony and Conor is quite likely.
McGregor has been out of the Octagon for two years. And this is a really long time. In a good way, before the meeting with Khabib he needed a warm-up fight. But he entered the toughest fight of his career far from being in his best condition. This does not in any way detract from Nurmagomedov’s victory; even in a fight with “peak” Conor, he would be the favorite. But still…
It’s hard to believe in an immediate rematch between Khabib and Conor. Neither side needs it.
Other fights to be made after UFC 229:
Derrick Lewis vs Stipe Miocic
Our Alexander Volkov should have taken Lewis's place in this ranking. Drago completely declassed the American throughout the entire fight. Except for the last 11 seconds, when the stray punch of the Black Beast hit the target. The light went out for Alexander, and with it the title chance disappeared from sight. No, he will probably introduce himself to Volkov, but now Lewis will be first in line.
The situation in the heavyweight division is quite confusing right now. She became such after the defeat of Stipe Miocic in a superfight with UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier. Now both belts hang at DC’s house, and he himself is waiting for money and easy fight with wrestling star Brock Lesnar. After him, he will be able to accept everyone who wants to challenge his titles. And the winner of the Lewis-Miocic pair will be the first. The UFC may well arrange a fight for Volkov with Cameroonian striker Francis Ngannou. This will be a top-level spectacle.
Dominick Reyes vs Jimi Manuwa or Thiago Santos
Reyes confidently beat the experienced Ovince Saint-Proux that evening. Now he has ten wins with zero defeats and the status of one of the main light heavyweight prospects. It is clear that the UFC is betting on him, consistently increasing the level of opposition. Most read option for Reyes on at this stage looks like a meeting with one of the brightest, but far from flawless strikers in the division. The winner of the Manuva-Santos pair is quite suitable for this role. We will find out which of them it will be at the end of the December UFC 231 tournament.
Photo: Harry How / Staff / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru, Ethan Miller / Staff / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru
Who should Khabib Nurmagomedov hang out with? next fight. You decide
Voting No. 1. Choose from two
Conor McGregor (29 years old; 172 cm; 21 wins, 3 losses)
What's interesting: you already know. Became UFC lightweight champion before Khabib. I didn’t defend my belt for a very long time. On April 5, he threw a chair at the bus in which Khabib was on. In terms of the degree of relations, this could become the loudest fight in the history of MMA.
Why not: McGregor's hearing for the parking lot disturbance is scheduled for June. Plus, Conor has a huge chance of losing this fight.
Tony Ferguson (34 years old; 182 cm; 23 wins, 3 losses)
What's interesting: Khabib and Freguson each have 10 wins in a row in the lightweight category. And they have been trying to organize their fight for 4 years now, setting 4 dates during this time. Khabib failed twice, Ferguson failed twice.
Why not: it is difficult for all participants to force themselves to do something for the fifth time
Vote No. 2. If not Tony and not Conor
Ben Askren (33 years old; 177 cm; 18 wins, 0 losses)
What's interesting: the only one on the list who, like Khabib, has no defeats. Askren is most likely worse than Khabib in the standing position, but is just as powerful on the ground and is slightly larger in size, since he competes in the up to 77 kg category.
Why not: very unpopular and does not have a contract with the UFC.
Nate Diaz (32 years old; 172 cm; 19 wins, 11 losses)
What's interesting: Khabib and his friends got into a brawl with brothers Nate and Nick Diaz in August 2015. Nate Diaz and Khabib can say that Nate is the man who beat Conor, but they can still argue with each other.
Why not: By the time of a potential fight with Khabib, Nate will have been without a fight for more than two years - and the outcome of this fight is too predictable. Plus, the Diaz brothers are uncontrollable in their trash talk, and most likely the fight will happen at one of the events. There will be brothers on each side.
Georges St-Pierre (36 years old; 177 cm; 26 wins, 2 losses)
What's interesting: one of many UFC fighters, who managed to end his career with a championship belt and winning streak. St-Pierre retired from MMA as a champion in the 77.1 kg weight category, having defended his belt 10 times in a row. In November 2017, I returned and unexpectedly received and won title fight in average weight (up to 84 kg). Considered one of the most popular athletes in Canada and one of the most respected and respected fighters in the UFC. Now on indefinite leave. Khabib is persistently hinting at this fight.
Why not: St-Pierre and Khabib are too good to each other. Plus Khabib seems to want to fight at lightweight, and his manager says in the off-season Khabib is even heavier than St-Pierre. Georges, in turn, suffered from intestinal problems, moving up a category, and now it is unclear whether he will want to fight in lightweight (that is, this will be the third category for him), and indeed fight at all.
