Uncle claims Khabib Nurmagomedov turned down $15 million payday for Conor McGregor rematch

Alex Nurmagomedov, the uncle of Khabib Nurmagomedov, claims the UFC lightweight champion turned down a $15 million dollar offer to eventually rematch Conor McGregor, the man he just submitted in the UFC 229 main event. Apparently, Nurmagomedov has no interest in fighting McGregor again, and instead wants to fight Tony Ferguson and then retire from competition.

“From the start, they offered him 15 million if he agrees,” Alex Nurmagomedov told  Russia’s Sport Express (via MMAjunkie). “But Khabib said no. Let Conor stand in line, let him fight with others. Khabib wants to fight Ferguson, and then finish his career.”

That, of course, all depends on Khabib Nurmagomedov staying with the UFC. While he is currently locked up in a contract with the promotion, he has recently threatened to leave the UFC if they release his friend and training partner Zubaira Tukhugov.

Apparently, this threat from Khabib Nurmagomedov sparked offers from several other promotions, such as Akhmat MMA and Fight Nights Global.

“We planned [a Ferguson fight], but it can pass only if Khabib remains in the UFC,” the champion’s uncle told Sport Express. “Many organizations with large prize funds offered him to sign a contract: Bellator, Akhmat, Fight Night. If Khabib remains in the UFC, then in April or May there will be a battle with Ferguson.”

Khabib Nurmagomedov also received an offer from rapper 50 Cent, of all people, who has recently been linked to Bellator MMA. The rapper offered Nurmagomedov $2 million to jump ship and sign with the Viacom-owned promotion. Apparently, however, that’s just not enough. After UFC 229, Nurmagomedov’s minimum wage is now $5 million.

“For $2 million [from Bellator and 50 Cent], Khabib will not fight,” the fighter’s uncle said. “Now he is ready to go into battle for no less than $5 million. In Bellator we were told to name our amount and they are ready to sign a contract. If Khabib leaves UFC, another eight people can leave with him. I can not list them all, but they are powerful, good fighters. I will not yet call their names. The UFC asked Khabib not to hurry, because they have not yet made a final decision.”

Again, they key detail to remember here is that Khabib Nurmagomedov is still under contract with the UFC, and the promotion will not just let him walk.

Do you think we’ll ever see Khabib Nurmagomedov rematch Conor McGregor?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 10/16/2018.