Conor McGregor’s UFC future to be decided on Tuesday as Dana White holds matchmaking meeting with Khabib rematch touted
UFC president Dana White will hold a matchmaking meeting on Tuesday to determine Conor McGregor’s future as he bids to earn a rematch against Khabib Nurmagomedov. Nurmagomedov is in line to defend his lightweight title against interim champion Justin Gaethje, who won the belt at UFC 249 with an upset over Tony Ferguson. McGregor – […]
UFC president Dana White will hold a matchmaking meeting on Tuesday to determine Conor McGregor’s future as he bids to earn a rematch against Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov is in line to defend his lightweight title against interim champion Justin Gaethje, who won the belt at UFC 249 with an upset over Tony Ferguson.
McGregor – who beat Donald Cerrone at welterweight on his return in January – has been told he will fight the winner of the unification if he wins his comeback bout, which promoter White is planning to discuss tomorrow.
White on Saturday night: “We start getting back in the office next week.
“We’re going to get back to work and the matchmaking meeting is on Tuesday.”
McGregor had insisted he would face Gaethje for the title in July, predicting unbeaten Khabib will “bottle” out of defending his belt.
But after UFC 249, White reiterated 33-year-old Gaethje will fight Nurmagomedov, 31, with The Notorious instead facing another challenge.
White said: “We’re going to do Khabib and Gaethje in September.
“We’ll see what happens with Conor this summer, but like I said, Tuesday I’ll be back in the office matchmaking.”
STAYING AT WELTERWEIGHT
With the lightweight champion and No1 contender otherwise occupied, McGregor has been tipped to remain at welterweight, opening the door for a third bout with Nate Diaz or mega-fight against Jorge Masvidal.
The 31-year-old Irishman has also been told by Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz that his only chance to fight for the title would be against 170lb champion Kamaru Usman.
Abdelaziz, who also manages Usman, told TMZ Sports: “He wants to fight for the title. He wants to become the champion again, right?
“I think Conor has only one chance for the title right now – if he grows some cojones and, he tweeted 170, right?
“Forget about Masvidal right now. Listen, if Conor called the UFC and said he wanna fight with Kamaru, the UFC is gonna say yes.
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“I think he is the easiest money in the UFC right now. But he also talks a lot. He doesn’t have enough cojones to come and fight someone like Kamaru.
“To be honest with you, I think it would be illegal for him to fight Kamaru. I don’t think he should be legal.”
“If he wants this fight, he needs to go on his knees and beg like he makes everyone beg.”
