UFC 223 headliner Khabib Nurmagomedov is scheduled to face UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson on April 7, from the Barclay Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The two will face off for the UFC’s lightweight title, but confusion has arisen thanks to Conor McGregor, who is the current undisputed champion.
Now, in a new interview, Khabib reveals that he signed a legal contract with the UFC, that his fight is for the undisputed belt, meaning the UFC will have to strip McGregor, or be in breach of their agreement with the Russian star.
“We’re gonna fight for his belt,” Khabib told TMZ Sports. “The UFC will strip his belt, and now we’re gonna fight for the real belt.”
“100%. I have a contract, like, real belt. What are they gonna do? They only have one real belt. They have the interim belt, and they have the real belt.”
“They sent me the contract. We’re gonna fight Tony Ferguson for the real belt. They (can) strip McGregor’s belt or not, (but) I have a contract. Real belt.”
“When was the last time Conor competed in MMA? I forget about this. He’s a boxing guy now. He’s (better off) to stay in boxing, because you have to compete in MMA, like wrestling, grappling, conditioning (for) 25 minutes, it’s different.”
“When (is he coming back)? They’re talking about (another) Floyd Mayweather fight. I don’t know, I don’t think he’s gonna come back.”
Here’s his full interview on the subject:
