UFC lightweight contender Khabib Nurmaomedov tweeted this out early Wednesday evening:
I want to fight for @ufc title for respect but if I don't get my title shot next I have different plan I won't be fighting in UFC @danawhite
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) November 16, 2016
The undefeated fighter from Dagestan defeated Michael Johnson on by submission on Saturday at UFC 205 before calling out “chicken” Conor McGregor, who was still a few hours away from winning the lightweight title. Nurmagomedov also directed a couple pointed comments at the UFC, saying that he:
- Understands the power of the UFC public relations machine when being a star in Ireland means more than being one in Russia in spire of the population disparities.
- Is done with “fake contracts,” referencing how the UFC sent him a bout agreement to fight Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 as leverage to lower McGregor’s asking price.
Nurmagomedov has also claimed that he can torpedo the UFC’s plans to expand to Russia if he wants to. As Bloody Elbow’s Karim Zidan explained last month, that’s actually more realistic than it may sound at on the surface.
