Khabib Nurmagomedov earned the undisputed UFC lightweight title back at UFC 223. “The Eagle” put on a dominant performance over Al Iaquinta, a fighter that was not ranked within the top ten contenders at the time.
Still, Nurmagomedov earned a unanimous decision victory for the title. Now former champion Eddie Alvarez has come forward with his thoughts on the matter. Speaking to MMA Junkie, Alvarez said:
“A lot of guys hurt, a lot of guys out, in prison, praying, injured, I don’t know what’s going on.”
“I know, 100 percent, matchup-wise, wrestling, stylistically, I watch the champion fight a lot. I am the guy to beat the champion. Not Dustin Poirier. Not Conor McGregor. Not anyone. I understand who I lost to, who I won (against). I’m the best style matchup. The champion don’t want to fight me right now. He knows. He’s going to pick off the wounded gazelles one by one. He’s going to take the good style matchups. I understand. Take them. I’ll be waiting in the end.”
“What’s funny about this whole thing is, Khabib wasn’t a champion. Now he’s the champion after beating no. 11. Let’s just get that out in the open. He says, ‘paper champion, who’s fake champion, who’s real champion?’ You beat no. 11, and now you’re champion. So think on that. Pray on that during Ramadan. No. 11, and now you’re champion.
“When I fought for the title, I literally fought no. 5, 4, 3, 2, then 1. I fought a champion, a guy who was a champion, who had a belt. That’s a real champion.”
