Tag: Khabib Nurmagomedov

UFC 249 faceoff video: Khabib Nurmagomedov, Tony Ferguson exchange words, and a belt is punted

The UFC 249 title-fight participants got a first look at each other when the on-sale press conference ended with faceoffs.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] and [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] added another faceoff against one another to their combined lineage.

Prior to the UFC 248 ceremonial weigh-ins held Friday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the lightweights took part in a 249 pre-fight news conference with UFC president Dana White.

The press conference was an effort to promote the upcoming pay-per-view, which takes place April 18 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.

UFC lightweight champion Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC) and challenger Ferguson (25-3 MMA, 15-1 UFC) fielded questions from the media for approximately 30 minutes. At the conclusion of the press conference, Nurmagomedov and Ferguson squared off.

Check out the UFC 249 pre-fight press conference faceoff between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson in the video above.

[vertical-gallery id=329266]

[vertical-gallery id=437333]

[vertical-gallery id=390685]

Video: Watch Friday’s UFC 249 press conference with Khabib, Tony Ferguson on MMA Junkie

Watch a live video stream of a news conference featuring UFC 249 lightweight title fighters Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson.

LAS VEGAS – Ahead of next month’s UFC 249 event in New York, you can watch a live video stream of a news conference featuring the lightweight title fighters on the card.

The press conference, hosted by UFC president Dana White, takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The event is free and open to the public ahead of the ceremonial weigh-ins for Saturday’s UFC 248 event at the same venue. Doors open to the public at 2:30 p.m. PT local time, and the press conference is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. The UFC 248 weigh-ins follow at 4 p.m.

Taking part will be lightweight champion [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC) and challenger [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] (25-3 MMA, 15-1 UFC).

UFC 249 takes place April 18 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.

Check out a video stream of the press conference above.

[vertical-gallery id=329266]

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Javier Mendez made a bet on Israel Adesanya vs. Yoel Romero

There’s no money on the line, but the stakes are interesting.

[autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] has been pretty accurate with his predictions in the past, most notably his picks for the UFC 194 main card when he went a perfect 5-0, even picking Conor McGregor over Jose Aldo in the main event.

Among Khabib’s picks that night was [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] over “Jacare” Souza, and it appears the UFC lightweight champion is a fan of the “Soldier of God,” as he is going with the underdog Romero in his UFC 248 matchup with middleweight champi [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag].

His coach, Javier Mendez, however, is going with Adesanya, and the two have placed a bet. If Mendez is correct, Khabib has to give him Islam Makhachev’s Gucci sunglasses. “You think I’m thief?” Khabib told Mendez when the wager for Makhachev’s glasses was set.

[lawrence-related id=496385]

Initially not wanting anything if he was correct, the humble champ settled on a five-round sparring session with his coach.

And why does Khabib want Romero to win? So he can ride into the sunset and eat some burgers in Cuba. That’s Khabib’s definition of the good life.

Watch the prediction video below courtesy of Mendez’s YouTube channel:

Khabib is expected to be in Las Vegas on Friday when he comes face to face with Tony Ferguson for the UFC 249 press conference ahead of their April 18 main event.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

[jwplayer y30zaWDp-RbnemIYZ]

Dana White on what’s next for Conor McGregor: ‘Khabib, if he wins – but I don’t know if Conor wants to wait’

Dana White doesn’t know if Conor McGregor is willing to wait for Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Dana White doesn’t know if [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] is willing to wait for [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag].

White told TMZ if Nurmagomedov gets past Tony Ferguson at UFC 249, then that’s the fight to make.

But with the fight scheduled for April 18, and Nurmagomedov usually not competing until a few months after Ramadan, it would be quite a long layoff for McGregor.

McGregor defeated Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 in January and already seems eager to return.

“Khabib, if he wins – but I don’t know if Conor wants to wait for him. We’ll see what happens,” White said. “Conor might not wait.”

[lawrence-related id=495821,494087,494078]

Despite Nurmagomedov, who submitted McGregor in their first outing, continuously saying that he’s not interested in a rematch, White is still angling for the fight.

“They hate each other,” White said. “If you think you’re going to do an interview with Khabib and he’s going to say great things about Conor McGregor, it’s never going to happen. If you interview Conor McGregor, he’s never going to say great things about Khabib. They hate each other.

“First of all, Conor does not hand pick his opponents. Conor McGregor has fought anybody that we’ve asked him to fight and who’s been available. I mean, guys have pulled out on Conor two or three times. Conor literally went to the gym and said, ‘Tell me who I’m fighting.'”

[vertical-gallery id=355186]

UFC signs Umar Nurmagomedov, younger cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov

A third member of the Nurmagomedov family has joined the ranks of the UFC.

A third member of the Nurmagomedov family has joined the ranks of the UFC.

Undefeated bantamweight [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] (12-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has signed with the UFC, the promotion announced on Instagram on Thursday. Nurmagomedov’s signing first came to light in January.

No timeline, opponent, or location has been revealed as to Nurmagomedov’s promotional debut.

Umar is the younger cousin of UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC). UFC middleweight Abubakar Nurmagomedov (15-3-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) is also a blood relative. Said Nurmagomedov is in the UFC, but shares no blood relation to the other three fighters.

Nurmagomedov is only 24 years old, but he’s already built up high-level experience. The Russian fighter largely competed for Fight Nights Global early in his career. In August 2018, Nurmagomedov made his U.S. debut for the PFL. He defeated Saidyokub Kakharamonov by unanimous decision in a back-and-forth battle.

After returning to Russia soil, Nurmagomedov won back-to-back fights. He made his PFL return in August 2019  and a successful one at that. Nurmagomedov picked up his second unanimous decision win under the promotion’s banner, defeating Sidemar Honorio

Nurmagomedov most recently competed in November 2019, taking out then-undefeated fighter Brian Gonzalez by first-round rear-naked choke.

[lawrence-related id=461391,303980]

Check out the UFC’s official announcement below:

[vertical-gallery id=437333]

UFC 249 press conference with Khabib Nurmagomedov, Tony Ferguson set for March 6

Khabib Nurmagomedov and challenger Tony Ferguson will go face-to-face at the UFC 249 press conference.

Just over one month from their highly anticipated lightweight title fight at UFC 249, champion [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] and challenger [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] will have a chance to get a good look at each other and hype their bout with a press conference.

Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC) and Ferguson (25-3 MMA, 15-1 UFC) are set to appear in front of fans and media at 6 p.m. ET on March 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, just prior to UFC 248 ceremonial weigh-ins. It is free and open to the public.

UFC officials today confirmed the press conference details for UFC 249, which takes place April 18 at Barclays Center in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.

Nurmagomedov, No. 1 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie MMA lightweight rankings, will attempt to make his third title defense when he takes on No. 2-ranked Ferguson, the former interim lightweight titleholder. It’s the fifth time the fight has been booked, which matchups falling apart in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 due to a variety of circumstances.

[vertical-gallery id=437333]

[vertical-gallery id=390685]

Khabib Nurmagomedov on Conor McGregor rematch: People just want drama; 99 percent know I win again

Khabib Nurmagomedov says people only want to see Conor McGregor rematch because of the drama.

[autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] continues to reiterate that a [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] rematch does nothing for him, personally.

UFC lightweight champion Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC)  defeated McGregor at UFC 229, where the pre-fight build up spilled over to a post-fight brawl, leaving many thinking that there’s unfinished business.

But Nurmagomedov, who submitted McGregor in a one-sided affair in the October 2018 contest, thinks nothing that occurred in the bout warrants a rematch, and booking the fight again would just be for the circus that would inevitably surround the event.

“I think people want to see – just continue what happened last time,” Nurmagomedov told TMZ Sports. “They just want to see drama. Like if you ask people, ‘What do you think guys? Who do you think is going to win?’ 99 percent are going to say, ‘Like he did the first time.’ People just want to see big drama show, only for this one.”

While Nurmagomedov does see the perks in a potential rematch with McGregor in terms of pay-per-view sales and overall eyes on the fight, he insists he’s not too interested in any of that.

The 28-0 undefeated lightweight, who’s scheduled to take on Tony Ferguson next at April’s UFC 249, says he’s carving a path toward greatness.

[lawrence-related id=494078,492703]

“If we’re talking about money, this is good,” Nurmagomedov said. “If we’re talking about drama, this is good. If we’re talking about real lightweight contender or real lightweight championship fight, this is not good. This is not real lightweight championship fight, but if we talk about drama and money, of course this is good, but I come here to make my legacy.

“For my legacy, I have to beat tough opponents like Dustin Poirier, like (Al) Iaquinta. … Right now, it’s Tony Ferguson. I have to beat all of them who’s real contenders, not fake contenders.”

McGregor made just about as emphatic of a statement as he could in his long-awaited return, when he took out Donald Cerrone at January’s UFC 246 in just 40 seconds. But it was at 170 pounds, and Nurmagomedov says McGregor beating a Cerrone that’s lost more than he’s won in his last 10 fights isn’t going to cut it in terms of earning a title shot.

“He has to fight with really tough opponents like Justin Gaethje or something like this, and he have to come back to lightweight division,” Nurmagomedov said. “He have to cut weight; this is just my opinion.”

“I think he’s ducking tough matchups, not only Justin Gaethje. He just choose, ‘OK, who’s going to be my next fight? Like, I need easy fight.'”

[vertical-gallery id=355186]

Khabib Nurmagomedov more motivated than ever: Past opponents not as tough as Tony Ferguson

Khabib Nurmagomedov extra motivated when prepping for Tony Ferguson at UFC 249.

[autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] knows he’s facing a different kind of opponent on April 18.

UFC lightweight champion Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC) takes on former interim titleholder [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] (25-3 MMA, 15-1 UFC) in the UFC 249 main event at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., a much anticipated lightweight matchup that was previously scheduled to take place on four different occasions.

Undefeated Nurmagomedov has already defended his title twice, with submission finishes over Conor McGregor and most recently, Dustin Poirier at this past September’s UFC 242.

But with Ferguson, Nurmagomedov admits he’s had an extra pep in his step during training camp for an opponent that has proven just how durable he is.

“I think, just my opinion, like last couple of years, I compete with guys like (Edson) Barboza, (Rafael) dos Anjos, Conor, Poirier, (Al) Iaquinta – all of these guys not tough like Tony Ferguson, and that’s why I feel like now I have real motivation,” Nurmagomedov told TMZ Sports. “Because before, when I watch all these opponents I think, ‘OK, I can beat these guys.’ Of course I work hard, but right now, it’s like very, very tough opponent. That’s why, and we focus like always, but right now we have more focus, more hard work.

“Tony is not like these guys, he’s a little bit more tough than all of them.”

Ferguson has won his last 12 in a row, in fights that he’s been dropped, rocked, and bloodied, but still managed to pull through to get the win. Nurmagomedov on the other hand, has not been nearly as tested inside the octagon, having mauled just about everyone put in front of him.

[vertical-gallery id=439972]

Eddie Bravo: Tony Ferguson multitude of weapons will be problem for Khabib at UFC 249

Tony Ferguson’s jiu-jitsu coach, the famed Eddie Bravo, has high hopes for his client ahead of his title fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov.

We’re still eight weeks out, and history has told us we should temper any excitement for [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag].

But with two months to go, Ferguson’s jiu-jitsu coach, grappling wizard Eddie Bravo of 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu, might have some people raising their eyebrows over the prospect of a Ferguson upset win to take the UFC’s lightweight title in April.

Champ Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC) puts his belt on the line against Ferguson (25-3 MMA, 15-1 UFC) in the UFC 249 main event on April 18 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. It’s one of the most highly anticipated fights in MMA history in large part because it has been booked four other times before. Each fighter has had to pull out twice each, and now everyone seems to be hoping the fifth time’s the charm.

On “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, Bravo said he’s been working with Ferguson on the puzzle that is Nurmagomedov for a bit.

“We’ve been preparing for Khabib for a long time,” Bravo said on the show. “… We’re always preparing for the worst-case scenario, and Khabib is the worst-case scenario. He’s probably the best ground-and-pounder wrestler ever. This is the toughest challenge ever in MMA for 10th Planet.”

[lawrence-related id=491940,485512,483194]

But while acknowledging Nurmagomedov, who nearly is a 3-1 favorite in the fight, is dangerous, Bravo also seems to also think the champ has moments he seems less superhuman – and those might be the times Ferguson can exploit some opening.

“The thing with Khabib, Khabib is undefeated – no doubt one of the best fighters of all time,” Bravo said. “But you’ve got to remember this, too: There are a couple of Khabib fights – we’ve watched all the Khabib fights – where you don’t see the classic Khabib. Like Gleison Tibau – that didn’t go down like (people expected). There are some fights Khabib (looks human).

“You can also look at the (Rafael) dos Anjos fight – there are things he couldn’t do that he could do with other people. He couldn’t get past dos Anjos’ guard. (He) wasn’t that easy to take down.”

And though Nurmagomedov’s mauling style, especially when the fight hits the canvas, is among the best in the world, Bravo was quick to point out that Ferguson’s wrestling may be at a level the champion isn’t used to – especially if people want to compare it to what Conor McGregor brought to the table when they fought in October 2018.

“Tony wrestled his whole (expletive) life,” Bravo said. “There’s a light year difference between Conor’s wrestling and Tony’s wrestling, so you’ve got that. Tony will throw D’Arce (chokes) standing and from all different angles, and while you’re trying to take him down. So Khabib’s got to worry about that.

“Khabib has my respect a million percent – that guy’s insane. But Tony has so many (expletive) weapons. He might have more weapons than anyone in the history of the UFC.”

[vertical-gallery id=437333]

[vertical-gallery id=390685]