Khabin threatens to leave the UFC

Jose Aldo might be getting some company soon.

Last week the UFC announced that Eddie Alvarez vs. Conor McGregor would headline UFC 205 in New York and the decision, while widely applauded by fans, was decried but some of the more established fighters in the organization. Former longtime featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo was furious about the being refused a McGregor rematch again and has since made statements suggesting that he will retire from MMA because of the way the UFC has treated him.

And now, number one lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov is echoing Aldo's sentiments.Speaking with our own Luke Thomas on The Luke Thomas Show, Nurmagomedov vented his frustrations with the UFC's decision and said that if he doesn't get a title shot after his UFC 205 fight with Michael Johnson, he will also be leaving the promotion.

"I'm a little bit upset because I already had two contracts to fight for the title at 205 and UFC 206. I signed both of them and after that the UFC makes this bullshit decision. I'm a little bit upset but it's okay. Sometimes shit happens, you know...

"After this fight I have to fight for the title. UFC thinks Conor has power? Irish people only like 6 million people. I am from Russia. 150 million people. If UFC don't give me the title fight after this fight, I'm going to show how I have power in Russia. I know if I don't fight for the title next fight, UFC will never, ever go to Russia."




Before the new 205 main event was announced, Nurmagomedov was active on social media, saying that the UFC had offered him several fights with Alvarez but that Alvarez was refusing to sign to fight him, something which Dana White confirmed on Twitter. But Alvarez had been angling for a fight with McGregor since winning the title and seemingly held out until he got the fight he wanted, something Nurmagomedov puts down to fear.

"UFC said 'you're going to fight 27, August in Canada against Eddie.' I said ‘yes, I take this fight,' but Eddie does not take this fight. After this UFC gives me UFC 205, Eddie say no. After UFC gave me 206, Eddie say no. And now these guys make this bullshit fight...

"Eddie understands who is who. Eddie and Eddie's coaches, everybody know 'this a very tough fight for me.' That's why he don't take this fight. He even said 'I want an easy fight'. You're champion. UFC champion. You're supposed to fight number one ranked, and number one ranked is not easy. For me, it's a crazy situation. But it's ok. Life is going and I'm going to keep going and I'm going to finish Michael Johnson at UFC 205 and after this I want to fight for the title."




Nurmagomedov didn't have to accept the fight with Johnson at 205. He could have sat on the sidelines and waited for his title shot a la Tyron Woodley. But instead, Nurmagomedov is trying to make the best of this situation, despite feeling like the UFC disrespected him. But if he doesn't get what he feels he deserves, Nurmagomedov says he's going to show that Conor McGregor isn't the only fighter with power in the UFC.

"I'd rather take this fight [with Johnson] because [Alvarez] signed with the UFC bullshit contract because he understands if he takes fight with me, his belt is going bye-bye. That's why both of them take this fight. And Dana a little bit played games and used my name. I never forget this.

"If I don't fight, I'm gonna show how I have power in Russia. And UFC, I don't fight in UFC ever and UFC never, ever go to the Russia. UFC think Conor have power. I have power too. This is not all about pay-per-view. I have power too. I'm gonna show this power."

We may well get to see Nurmagomedov's threat put to the test. Raphael dos Anjos fights Tony Ferguson on November 5th in what appears to be a number one contender bout. If Ferguson wins, it's very hard to imagine Nurmagomedov getting a title shot before him. If Nurmagomedov really does walk away from the UFC, that would be two of the top pound for pound fighters in the world the organization would lose in one calendar year, entirely due to their business practices. But Nurmagomedov doesn't foresee this happening because he intends to put an end to these "bullshit" money fights.

"All my life there's only one rule: best fighting the best. Now it's a little bit changed and I'm a little bit upset but it's okay. Very soon, young and very hungry Eagle is going to change these rules."

http://www.mmafighting.com/2016/10/5/13170426/morning-report-khabib-nurmagomedov-if-i-dont-fight-for-the-title

I don't understand why khabib thinks he deserves a title shot.

he beat rda 2 years ago. he has never faced a top 15 fighter with the exception of that one fight. he has been sidelined for what seems like an entire mma lifetime.

I personally think he has to prove himself before he gets the title shot. Johnson is a great fight and if he should win then let him fight the winner of rda/ferguson

Yeah, I think all else being equal Khabib is the #1 contender.
That being said, he hasn't fought a real opponent in more than 2 years.
He surely would have had a title fight by now had he remained healthy. He can't really blame the UFC for his health issues.

I have no doubt he gets the next title shot if he gets past Johnson, so I think he needs to cool down a bit and stop threatening with ultimatums. Knowing Dana, I could see him sending Khabib a big "fuck you" if his fight with Johnson turns into a snore fest.

i cant agree with him getting the title shot over ferguson if ferg wins against rda.

the ufc has to understand that khabib hasn't fought anyone to deserve it ,he has been sidelined and on top of that the majority of his fights go to decision. even though he is a good fighter a win over Johnson doesn't mean shit to get a title fight before the porier fight he was on a 2 fight losing streak.

i think Dana will give khabib a huge fuck you regardless. Dana doesn't need him. Dana doesn't want threats like that especially from a guy who hasn't fought. i hope Dana uses him as an example to gain leverage over the fighters. khabib doesn't fill seats or ppv's and his fights though at times are exciting they are mostly boring. it truly blows my mind that khabib is the #1 ranked LW fighter.. what could that be based off of?

if conor should lose at 205 i think khabib would be a great fight for him at lw

Yeah, I totally forgot about fergie furg.

There are a lot of guys with legitimate beefs out there. A guy who has not fought a real opponent in more than 2 years and has had tons of health issues is not one of them.

Now that I think about it, they found the perfect opponent for him. Johnson is another guy bitching with no merit. Did anyone notice the rant he went off on after his last win?
"McGregor and Diaz go out here and get paid big bucks to basically just spar. I go out here and finish fights and knock guys out. Pay me Dana! Time to pay me! ...... [blah blah blah]"

Does anyone need to remind Johnson that he lost his two fights prior (including one to Diaz), and that he had not finished a fight since 2013?

Maybe those two can give each other a double KO.

lol you are 100% right.

I forgot about that rant.

conor really messed these guys heads up.. pretty funny when you think about I. single handedly changed mma

stock wrote:

Does anyone need to remind Johnson that he lost his two fights prior (including one to Diaz), and that he had not finished a fight since 2013?

Maybe those two can give each other a double KO.