Khabib Planning 2 Fights For 2019, No McGregor Rematch, Manager Reveals

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s return to the octagon to defend his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) men’s lightweight title seemed one step closer after the Nevada State Athletic Commission approved the 35-day reduction in the suspension of his two teammates for their part in the brawl after Nurmagomedov’s UFC 229 fight against Conor McGregor.

“The Eagle” had vowed not to fight until his teammates Abubakar Nurmagomedov and Zubaira Tukhugov were cleared of their suspensions. The 35-day reduction will see them return to action ahead of UC 242 on Sept. 7 in Abu Dhabi, and Nurmagomedov’s agent Ali Abdelaziz confirmed Wednesday that his client’s match against Dustin Poirier could be confirmed soon.

Nurmagomedov will defend his lightweight title and will be the headline act in Abu Dhabi. Abdelaziz did not stop there as he went on to reveal that the Poirier fight is unlikely to be the only one as if everything goes to plan, the Russian could also face Georges St-Pierre later in 2019.

“We are close. Good news coming very soon ... And if all goes to plan, I think Khabib will fight Georges St-Pierre at the end of the year,” Abdelaziz told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto when asked about confirmation regarding Nurmagomedov’s fight against Poirier.

Meanwhile, McGregor, who retired from UFC earlier in 2019, has indicated he was willing to return to the octagon if Nurmagomedov offered him a rematch. The Irishman was beaten via submission at UFC 229 but the match ended in a brawl between the two teams.

McGregor recently spoke about the brawl and gave his version of the events that transpired after the match. “The Notorious” accepted the defeat against Nurmagomedov but wants another shot at the Russian.

“I gave my respect, ‘Congrats,’ he won the match, let’s see what happens next time. I’m confident we’ll get it again, let’s go again. I am humble in victory or defeat, no matter what. It’s a sport at the end of the day, a gruesome sport, but it’s a sport. I respect that I was defeated on the night,” McGregor recently said during an interview with Tony Robbins, as transcribed by MMA Fighting.