Khabib Nurmagomedov updates on potential Conor McGregor fight: “we’re talking”

Perhaps the biggest fight possible in MMA at present would be a showdown between undefeated UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and former champion Conor McGregor. Apparently, talks are already under way to make that fight a reality.

Speaking at a Q&A at a Russian University this week, Nurmagomedov suggested that there has been some contact between his and McGregor’s teams surrounding a potential fight. That said, he doesn’t plan on waiting around for the Irish star. If negotiations take too long, the lightweight champ seems content to direct his focus elsewhere.

“We’re talking, but if it takes too long, I don’t want to do that,” Nurmagomedov through an RT Sport translator (h/t MMANytt). “If he wants to fight this year, then we can fight. Otherwise, I don’t know. We won’t wait long. I want to fight Conor and if he can fight, I will fight him.”

If McGregor isn’t interested in fighting this year, Nurmagomedov has no shortage of alternate options. Apparently, however, former champ Eddie Alvarez isn’t one of them.

“There is Tony Ferguson, but I don’t think he is going to fight soon,” Nurmagomedov said. “Then there is Alvarez, He wants to fight, but there’s something missing. He may or may not know this, but I’ll tell him to go take a hike.”

Interestingly, streaking contender Dustin Poirier recently asserted that he was contacted by Nurmagomedov’s team with respect to a potential title fight.

“I think it’s pretty good chances, Tony’s timeline is nine months and we got to see if Conor  comes back, maybe he doesn’t,” Poirier said on The MMA Hour this week. “Khabib’s manager reached out to me and told me I’m the next guy in line and they want to fight me.”

Who do you want to see Khabib Nurmagomedov fight next?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 4/20/2018.