LAS VEGAS – As soon as [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] defeated Donald Cerrone in swift fashion at UFC 246 on Saturday night, the speculation began.
Who will McGregor (22-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) face next? Jorge Masvidal? [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag]? Kamaru Usman?
At the UFC 246 post-fight news conference, president Dana White made it clear which option he plans on pursuing next. He wants the rematch.
“When you look at what makes sense, we’re at a place right now where Conor was saying going into the Khabib fight (at UFC 229) – he had lot of personal stuff,” White said. “Some stuff (was) self-inflicted. He had injuries. He had all these things going on. He has been obsessed with getting that rematch because he knows he wasn’t 100 percent, right?
“When you look at this for Khabib, Khabib is 28-0. He’s undefeated. You start talking about this kid’s legacy. First of all, to go 28-0 in this sport? I don’t care who you’ve fought. It’s tough to do. Well, this guy is a world champion. After tonight, with how Khabib won the first time, and how famous Khabib has become since that first fight, we’re looking at Hagler-Hearns. We’re looking at Ali-Foreman (or) Ali-Frazier. This is a massive fight with global appeal. It’s the fight you make.”
A matchup between McGregor and Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC) would mean Jorge Masvidal wouldn’t get his shot at the Irish superstar. While White acknowledged the interest from the respective parties, he thinks a title fight is key when it comes to McGregor’s next bout.
“If Conor and Masvidal fight, neither one of them even have the title,” White said. “Although Conor does want his ‘BMF’ title, (Masvidal) doesn’t have a world championship. Khabib is the fight to make.”
In recent weeks, McGregor has commented how he’d like to rematch Nurmagomedov in hostile territory. He’s expressed interest in a second fight with the current lightweight champ in his backyard of Moscow. But no way, said White, who listed viable potential cities.
“Nope,” White said. “It ain’t happening in Moscow. … Why do you think it’s not going to happen in Moscow? There are many, many reasons why it won’t happen in Moscow. When I just rattled off the places we could make it, those are the places that make sense. You could either do it in the U.K.; New York City; Dallas, Texas stadium; the stadium (in Las Vegas); T-Mobile (Arena) – those are all the places that make sense.
“Realistically, Vegas is always the place that makes the most sense when you have a massive fight. Unfortunately, Khabib is not a big Vegas fan after what happened to him last time. I don’t know.”
Before logistics for McGregor vs. Nurmagomedov 2 are configured, the Russian champion takes on Tony Ferguson in the main event of UFC 249 in Brooklyn, N.Y., in April.
McGregor has said he doesn’t expect the fight to happen. It has been booked four previous times, and each fighter has pulled out twice each.
UFC 246 took place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
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