Khabib Nurmagomedov News

Justin Golightly - September 29, 2017

With the interim UFC lightweight title fight moving forward with Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee, we at least further distanced ourselves from the heartbreak of Khabib Nurmagomedov. We’ve been robbed of seeing this Russian sambo destroyer in action for awhile now, but the UFC has been trying to make a fight with him and Ferguson happen since 2015. Only one of these instances could be attributed to Tony Ferguson. However, this recent news reopens all those old wounds. Sean Shelby recently revealed that it could have been Nurmagomedov fighting for the interim title at Madison Square Garden, but he turned it down. “Just to clear things up, a fight was offered to [Khabib] Nurmagomedov on November 4th [UFC 217] and at that point we were trying to put cards together towards the end of the year. I was informed that he could not make that date. He probably wouldn’t be able to fight until at least December. That left Tony [Ferguson] without a dance partner and it’s not just about one guy, it’s about two guys.”

Justin Golightly - September 19, 2017

There has been an endless stream of trash talk since Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee were booked to fight. Actually, it was even before that when the war of words started. After his quick win over Michael Chiesa, Lee already started digging into Ferguson in their post-fight interview live on the air. As wild as the verbal battle has been, the physical fight between the two is sure to be even better… and very violent. “I’mma’ beat the f-ck outta’ Tony [Ferguson]. I’ll beat him. I’mma’ beat the f-ck outta’ Tony . Tony can take a shot, I like to give shots, I’mma’ beat the f-ck outta’ Tony. I’mma’ beat the hell out of him. I’m going to I beat him from pillar to post. Y’all just wait, the folks don’t really know. I’mma’ beat the f-ck outta’ Tony.”

Justin Golightly - September 7, 2017

Talking about Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson fighting almost brings up some post-traumatic canceled disorder symptoms. It seems like we’ve talked about the fight longer than the build-up to Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather. Their rivalry reached its peak for UFC 209 with an interim UFC lightweight title on the line. There was so much hype around the fight and it was billed as the best lightweight fight the UFC could have put on at the time. As we all know, Khabib had medical issues and had to pull-out of that fight. They were in talks to meet once again in the Octagon this year, but nothing ever materialized. Tony Ferguson recently expressed his frustrations on the latest episode of Submission Radio. “It is what it is and it’s not funny anymore, it really isn’t. [Khabib Nurmagomedov] got a lot fans that are really disappointed in you and you’re… f-ck dude, you’re disappointing yourself. You’re letting me fight a number seven [ranked fighter]. You gotta’ be sitting on the sidelines hating your ass. You gotta’ be thinking, like, ‘sh-t, why the hell did I not sign on that dotted line? Why am I letting Ferguson fight Kevin Lee? Holy sh-t, Tony’s gonna’ get a belt and I’m not gonna get sh-t. I’m gonna be stuck here with that fake belt that I got when I f-ckin’ went to Russia and everyone gave one to me.’ That’s what he’s gonna’ be saying, enjoying his team tiramisu like at the end of dodge ball when you have Ben Stiller eating that f-cking ice cream f-ckin’ Chuck Norris.”

Tom Taylor - September 5, 2017

On October 7, in the main event of UFC 216, Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee will collide for the UFC interim lightweight title. The announcement of this fight, of course, came as a bit of a surprise, as any interim lightweight title fight was expected to involve undefeated Dagestani star Khabib Nurmagomedov. Apparently, however, the UFC was not interested in booking Ferguson vs. Nurmagomedov – perhaps due to Nurmagomedov’s unfortunately long history of withdrawing from fights.

Justin Golightly - August 31, 2017

Kevin Lee has quietly stacked up five straight wins, finishing four of those opponents. Fingers crossed that the card stays together, UFC 216 will push Lee into his highest profile bout yet. He’s going to headline the card against Tony Fergusonin a fight for the interim UFC lightweight title. Ferguson has already been vocal about what he’s going to do to Kevin Lee, mainly choke him until he slowly fades away into darkness. No kidding, he really said that. Of course, Lee disagreed and doubled down with the guys over at Submission Radio that he’s going to destroy Ferguson like a former Pride and UFC veteran, Quinton Jackson. “I mean, [Tony Ferguson] tries to finish everybody with that weak-ass D’arce choke. I mean, apparently the man believes in it, but he ain’t never faced nobody like me. He’s never faced a wrestler like me. He’s never faced somebody with the movement that I’ve had, especially a weak-ass D’arce choke. And look, if he gonna go for that D’arce, I’m gonna pick him up over my head and I’m gonna Rampage his ass.”

Tom Taylor - August 21, 2017

Earlier this month, we learned that top lightweight contender Tony Ferguson will battle Kevin Lee – not undefeated Russian star Khabib Nurmagomedov – for UFC interim lightweight gold at UFC 216. Given Ferguson and Nurmagomedov’s rivalry and shared status as the two best lightweights not named Conor McGregor, this news came as a bit of a surprise. In the opinion of Lee, however, the reasons for this fight are pretty simple. “We can cut the bullshit – [Nurmagomedov’s] just being a bitch about it,” Lee recently told MMAjunkie Radio. “He just doesn’t want to fight. Bottom line, he doesn’t want to fight.”

Tom Taylor - August 20, 2017

If Conor McGregor returns to MMA after his blockbuster boxing match with Floyd Mayweather Jr., one of the most interesting options for him would be a fight with undefeated Russian contender Khabib Nurmagomedov. In the opinion of McGregor’s training partner and friend, Russian-born Irishman Artem Lobov, there could be no better setting for this fight than the MMA-obsessed country of Russia.

Russell Ess - August 18, 2017

With the announcement that Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee will be fighting at UFC 216 for the UFC lightweight interim title, Khabib Nurmagomedov will be on the sideline preparing for his return to the Octagon.

Tom Taylor - August 16, 2017

The reason Dana White gave for Ferguson vs. Lee was that Nurmagomedov wasn’t ready. This was him yesterday. #UFC216 https://t.co/lQQbSVoNyJ pic.twitter.com/j5u3ODg5r6 — Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) August 16, 2017

Tom Taylor - August 16, 2017

Last night, we learned that top lightweight contender Tony Ferguson would be fighting Kevin Lee – not the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov – for the UFC interim lightweight title at UFC 216 this October 7. Unsurprisingly, this news was not particularly well received by Nurmagomedov’s team. Speaking on his Russian social media account, Nurmagomedov’s father and long-time coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov criticized this newly-announced booking.

Chris Taylor - August 15, 2017

Earlier tonight UFC President Dana White announced that an interim lightweight title fight between surging division contenders Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee will be taking place at UFC 216 on October 7 in Las Vegas. The interim title fight between Lee and Ferguson came as a surprise to many, as the original plan was to have undefeated lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov square off with “El Cucuy”.

Tom Taylor - August 9, 2017

Yesterday afternoon, top lightweight contenders Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov agreed to a fight this November 4, at UFC 217, inside New York City’s hallowed Madison Square Garden. MSG Sounds Nice To Me. Get Ready For An Ass Whoopin’ @TeamKhabib#TonyFergusonMMA#SnapDownCity

Russell Ess - July 18, 2017

We have not seen current #1 UFC ranked lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov compete since November of last year where he defeated Michael Johnson by submission in the third round. “The Eagle” was scheduled to fight #2 ranked lightweight Tony Ferguson in a UFC interim lightweight title fight at UFC 209 in March. However, Nurmagomdeov suffered weight management medical issues hours before the UFC 209 weigh-ins and was taken to a hospital and the interim title fight was canceled. Since the mishap, Khabib has stated that he has been recovering from his medical issues suffered in March and was aiming to fight Ferguson first and then Conor McGregor in the Winter. McGregor has stated that a fight with Nurmagomedov in his home country of Russia is something that has his interest after his mega money fight with Floyd Mayweather in August.

Russell Ess - July 17, 2017

There are a lot of people speculating that Conor McGregor will not be fighting in the UFC after he receives his massive payday from the boxing match against Floyd Mayweather. Even UFC President Dana White isn’t sure if “The Notorious” will walk away from fighting after August 26.

bjpenndotcom - June 30, 2017

We'll be back soon, InshaAllah. Fun is just beginning, although a long trip is behind. Autumn Tony, Winter Conor. #thinkingoutloud ❗️ Скоро вернёмся ИншаАллагь. Все самое интересное только начинается, хотя и пройдено очень многое. Осенью Тони, Зимой Конор. #Мысливслух #ufc #mma #Nurmagomedov #победатолькоотВсевышнего A post shared by Khabib Nurmagomedov (@khabib_nurmagomedov) on Jun 30, 2017 at 1:08pm PDT

Russell Ess - June 26, 2017

.@tonyfergusonXT has a message for @TeamKhabib following his challenge to Tony from rehab. #ShotsFired #StrongWords pic.twitter.com/jp0pm1o8g2 — FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) June 26, 2017

bjpenndotcom - June 17, 2017

Saturday morning, American fight fans tuned into UFC Fight Pass for a highly anticipated morning of fights in Singapore, headlined by a women’s bantamweight showdown between Holly Holm and Bethe Correia. On the main card however, former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos picked up a unanimous decision win over Tarec Saffiedine in his UFC welterweight debut. The win over Saffiedine was a much needed one for dos Anjos, who was riding a 2-fight skid going into his welterweight debut that saw him drop a 1st round TKO to Eddie Alvarez to lose the lightweight title nearly a year ago before then dropping a unanimous decision to Tony Ferguson. Following Dos Anjos’ win over Saffiedine, UFC lightweight #1 contender Khabib Nurmagomedov called for a fight between Dos Anjos and top ranked welterweight Jorge Masvidal:

Tom Taylor - May 23, 2017

If things had unfolded just a little bit differently back in February, Khabib Nurmagomedov could be wearing UFC interim lightweight gold right now. He was, after all, scheduled for an interim lightweight title fight with fellow star Tony Ferguson. Unfortunately, Nurmagomedov was forced out of this planned collision with Ferguson after he was hospitalized due to a botched weight cut. Left without an opponent at the last minute, Ferguson was then also forced off the card.