Nurmagomedov, McGregor may reconcile
Nurmagomedov reveals he can imagine a reconciliation with McGregor, even after the bitter feud that marred their last title fight. Both men are waiting on a December 10 hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission to find out if their actions will result in any further sanctions, but Nurmagomedov insists that he and McGregor may not remain bitter enemies.
Everything is possible. Just as McGregor and I feuded, so we could reconcile…Who are we not to forgive one another when the Almighty forgives us?
McGregor’s hopes of Nurmagomedov rematch dashed by UFC
UFC president White expects Nurmagomedov to face Ferguson when he returns, and not a rematch with McGregor. Both Nurmagomedov and McGregor will come before the Nevada State Athletic Commission on December 10 to discover whether they will be fined and banned for their post-fight brawls.
They’ve got to go before the NSAC which is scheduled for December and we’ll see what happens. Tony Ferguson is the right fight [for Nurmagomedov], he didn’t lose the belt in a fight so it’s the right fight. We’ll see how this whole thing plays out, it all depends on the suspensions.
McGregor calls for rematch
McGregor didn’t attend the post-fight press conference at UFC 229, but took to social media to issue brief statements. On Twitter he says, “Good knock. Looking forward to the rematch.” He also posts on Instagram: “I’ll be back.”
Good knock. Looking forward to the rematch.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 7, 2018
Nurmagomedov apologises at post fight press conference
At the press conference following McGregor’s defeat by Nurmagomedov and the chaos that ensued, Nurmagomedov says Russian president Vladimir Putin called to congratulate him, and he apologises to the commission.
First of all I want to say sorry to the athletic commission and second to Vegas. This is my bad side…I’m human being. I don’t understand how people can talk about (how) I jump over the cage…He talk about my religion, he talk about my country. He talk about my father. He come to Brooklyn and he broke bus. He almost kill a couple of people. What about this shit?…My father teach me you have to always be respectful… You can not talk about religion. You can not talk about nation…I know my father going to smash me when I go home.
Nurmagomedov pleads with White to award belt
After defeating McGregor, then brawling in the crowd, and as Las Vegas metro police attempt to restore order, Nurmagomedov climbs back into the octagon and pleads with White to give him his belt: “Put my belt on me.” White refuses, fearing an even greater safety issue. He explained that angry fans would pelt him with anything they could get their hands on. Khabib continues to protest:
“I don’t care. I’m ready for this. If I have to be arrested, then I have to be arrested. But I want my belt put on me.
Nurmagomedov leaves press conference before McGregor shows up
McGregor and Nurmagomedov appear separately at the final press conference in Las Vegas ahead of Saturday night’s fight. Nurmagomedov took the stage at the Park Theater at exactly 3pm for a scheduled news conference with McGregor and UFC president Dana White. Nurmagomedov:
It’s 3pm, this conference is beginning. I don’t need to wait for nobody…Fans is here, media is here, everybody is here… I don’t think about him. I have a schedule… I have to make weight. I have to worry about myself.
Nurmagomedov answered questions for 15 minutes before leaving. White stalled for 10 minutes before McGregor finally arrived to the theater at 3:25pm. He received a standing ovation from the crowd and handed White a bottle of his new signature whiskey. McGregor:
I did not plan this. I tried to get here. I’m only a couple minutes late… He doesn’t want to be around me. He is petrified…There will never be peace here. I always say you should aim for peace but if you can’t aim for peace, aim between the eyes. I’m gonna to aim right between that man’s eyes and this is never over. Never, ever, ever, over.
McGregor vs Nurmagomedov UFC 229 press conference
McGregor and Nurmagomedov meet face-to-face at at Radio City Music Hall in New York City for the first press conference for their UFC 229 fight. With little under than three weeks to go, McGregor yelled at Nurmagomedov, who remained calm and quiet for the duration of the press conference. McGregor spent much of the press conference animated and threatening Nurmagomedov.
I’m going to truly love putting a beating on this little glass-jaw rat…He’s fought absolutely nobody. He’s in over his head. I’m going to pick him apart and absolutely maul him. He’s dead man walking.
Nurmagomedov said he will do his talking in the cage:
He can talk whatever he wants. He’s going to talk, I know. [Oct. 6] is most important when they close the cage doors. [Oct. 6], what are you going to do? I’m going to maul you.
White believes McGregor vs Nurmagomedov fight will break pay-per-view record
White believes the upcoming McGregor vs Nurmagomedov fight could break the two million pay-per-view barrier. The UFC do not release pay-per-view figures, but the record is believed to be 1.6million for McGregor’s rematch with Nate Diaz in 2016.
I am confident it will do two million on pay-per-view. Believe me when I tell you, this will be massive.
McGregor calls Nurmagomedov’s father a ‘quivering coward’
McGregor takes a shot at Nurmagomedov’s father and coach Abdulmanap, calling him a ‘quivering coward’ on social media.
I can see you. Cowering behind fake respect. Just like your middle child. A quivering coward.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm3bcH3gPFh/
Nurmagomedov reveals his strategy for McGregor grudge match
NURMAGOMEDOV reveals his strategy for his upcoming UFC229 lightweight title fight with McGregor.
My plan is to make him flat, make him tired and make him give up!
Malignaggi: McGregor will ‘look for a way out’ of Khabib fight, like he did with Diaz
Malignaggi gives his own pre-fight assessment on the upcoming UFC lightweight title bout between Nurmagomedov and McGregor:
Now, Khabib is not a guy that’s known as a submission guy. Khabib is more of a ground-and-pound guy, which means you don’t have the option to be submitted really because Khabib will just keep you on the ground and punish you and beat you…Conor has some skills standing up a little bit and maybe Khabib will have a hard time getting it to the ground, but if the fight ends up on the ground, it’s only a beating for Conor…The fact is he’s gonna look for a way out of that fight too. Look at round five of the Diaz rematch, he’s literally running for his life…With the fight hanging in the balance, who runs for the entire final round? He was given the decision in a close decision that could have went either way, but who takes that chance though?…These are all character flaws of a man with no balls.
Nurmagomedov: ‘I want to change his face’
Nurmagomedov says he is ready to fight McGregor.
I can’t belive we are going to really want this guy. Make him humble. Tech him But not only smash, but change his face. Not only face, but also to change his mind too. Of course [it’s personal]…I am little happy he [got off] because if he go to jail how can I catch him?…I am relaxed. I know we are going to fight…If they say October: I am here, September: I am here.
Nurmagomedov: Time to ‘finish our business’
Nurmagomedov issues a statement after McGregor’s plea deal, challenging the Irishman to fight in New York.
Glad that he stayed out of jail, because I wouldn’t be able to punish him in that case. Now he needs to bring his Irish team to MSG in November and finish our business.
Nurmagomedv manager: We want to beat McGregor’s ass
Abdelaziz, Nurmagomedov’s manager, says he has not yet heard from McGregor’s team.
Conor’s boss has not called me, has not talked to me, has not asked me anything. Conor’s number one b**** for Dana White. He writes his paycheck…Dana White wants to make this fight, he understands it’s the biggest fight in UFC history. But one of the things we’re not gonna do, everybody begs to fight this clown, and we’re not gonna beg to fight this clown. We wanna beat his ass, he doesn’t set a good example for the sport, he doesn’t set a good example for kids, if we have to fight him, we’re gonna have to fight him. If we don’t fight him we don’t give a f***.
White: ‘We’re not talking about a McGregor fight right now’
At a post-UFC 226 press conference at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, White says any talk of McGregor’s return to The Octagon must wait until the fighter clears his legal issues.
I’m not even thinking about Conor until – I’m serious. I know they’re saying there are talks, but we’re not talking about a fight right now. Conor has to get through July. Whatever’s going to happen to him in July, we’ll figure that out. I don’t know what’s going to happen…Is he going to get fined? Is he going to be on probation? Is he going to get this, that? When that’s over with, then we’ll start talking about him fighting.
Dyzuba hints at McGregor-Nurmagomedov fight
Zenit Saint Petersburg striker Dyzuba suggests the McGregor-Nurmagomedov fight is on.
Dear Khabib, we wish you the best of luck in the upcoming fight with the Irishman Conor McGregor. This will be the most important fight in your career. This is a gift from our entire team. khabI know that you love football, so here’s a T-shirt with the first number, because you are Number 1. Good luck in the UFC.
Nurmagomedov fight to go to Ferguson if McGregor misses deadline
According to MMA Team Dagestan, who first broke the news of the fight negotiations, McGregor is in danger of losing the Nurmagomedov bout to Ferguson.
BREAKING; If the negotiations on the fight @TeamKhabib vs. @TheNotoriousMMA will not be achieved, then next week @UFC announces fight @TeamKhabib vs. @TonyFergusonXT. #UFC229 October 6.
Nurmagomedov: ‘Just send me the contract’
Nurmagomedov says he is ready to sign a contract to fight McGregor.
I do not need to negotiate with you, do not need to call and ask me.. Just send me the contract. Yes, negotiations are underway.. But you need to persuade him and not me. You need to explain to him ”he will not beat you hard” agree to fight.
https://twitter.com/MMATeamDagestan/status/1011034233752694785
Nurmagomedov manager: McGregor ‘running out of money’
Aziz says McGregor only wants to fight Nurmagomedov because he is running out of money.
The last time I talked to Dana, he seemed this is the fight he wants to do. This is the biggest fight in UFC history, the biggest money maker. Conor is running out of money; this is why he agreed to fight Khabib. It’s OK — we are going to contribute to him making some money, but at the end of the day, we owe him an ass whooping. We need to get this ass whooping for Khabib and get it out of the way…[Nurmagomedov] doesn’t like the guy. We don’t like the guy. We don’t like his team. We don’t like what they represent. We don’t like what Conor represents. I like some of the stuff he does, to be honest, but he thinks he’s a gangster — I don’t think he is. Gangsters, they end in jail or get beat up.
Nurmagomedov confirms McGregor negotiations
Nurmagomedov says the UFC is working on his proposed bout with McGregor.
Very soon, I’m going to come to the USA to begin my training camp. When the UFC give me fight, I’m going to come to California and I’m going to stay there in AKA with my family nine weeks before fight. I’m going to defend my Inshallah (god willing) this year. This year, I want to defend my title…About opponents, I don’t know, to be honest. I don’t know. But the UFC is working on fight, me versus Conor…If they give (me) Conor, I’m going to fight…If they give me different opponents; ‘GSP’ or the winner of (Eddie) Alvarez versus (Dustin) Poirier. It doesn’t matter, let’s go.