Right now, a rematch between UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor is arguably the biggest fight that can be made in mixed martial arts.
But the idea of McGregor and Nurmagomedov getting back into the Octagon doesn't appear to be in the UFC"s immediate plans with McGregor returning after a 15-month layoff on Saturday at UFC 246 against Donald Cerrone and Nurmagomedov defending his title at UFC 249 on April 18 vs. Tony Ferguson. With McGregor's last victory in the UFC coming a little over three years ago against Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205, Nurmagomedov has made it clear that his nemesis would need to win no less than ten consecutive fights in order to meet him again in the Octagon.
It's unlikely McGregor would need to reel off that many wins to avenge his fourth-round submission loss to Nurmagomedov at UFC 229. The animosity between them still runs deep as it got personal in the lead-up to UFC 229, preceded by the near-riot inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with both fight camps. Even though Nurmagomedov is dismissive of a sequel taking place, McGregor defiantly feels the native of Dagestan has no choice in the matter and they will meet again.
"He’ll do what he’s told," McGregor said point-blank to DAZN Germany.
When asked for a direct response to Nurmagomedov's statement a few months ago, McGregor doubled down on his assessment.
"He’ll do what he’s told," McGregor said. "He has no say in this thing like he’s pretending he does. We’ll be ready for the bout. The fans will see a difference on Jan. 18. Then they’ll know what’s what and that’s it. You can’t ride off into the sunset on something like that. The game is very forgetful. So, we’ll meet again, and we’ll settle it."
Typically, the biggest fights in MMA take place in "The Fight Capital of the World" in Las Vegas or the "Mecca of Sports" at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It gets no more significant than McGregor - Nurmagoemdov II.
The "Notorious" one doesn't agree with that assessment and wants to channel his inner Rocky Balboa when he traveled to Moscow to face Ivan Drago in "Rocky IV."
"I want that bout in Moscow," McGregor said. "That’s what I’m striving for. That’s what the fans want. That’s what the people want. Rocky. Rocky Balboa style."