Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Manager Seemingly Confirms UFC Bout in Russia

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, suggested today that Khabib’s next fight may come against either UFC Lightweight Champion and Pay-Per-View King — ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor, or ‘El Cucuy’ Tony Ferguson — in Russia!

Abdelaziz issued an ultimatum to lightweight Tony Ferguson this week as he told ‘El Cucuy’ on twitter that if a fight with Khabib wasn’t accepted soon, the Russian fighter would move on and find another opponent.

Khabib’s manager kept things ambiguous today, as Abdelaziz hinted that McGregor could potentially march into Russia and defend his title against Nurmagomedov.

😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺

— Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) January 7, 2017

Fans demanded to know more after Abdelaziz posted smiley faces and a series of Russian flags in a late evening tweet.

@TheMaximumPower @mlucicfan17 🐓🐓

— Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) January 7, 2017

After his dominant victory over Michael Johnson at UFC 205, Nurmagomedov called out Conor McGregor. “Your guy (McGregor), beginning of the year he tap like chicken, end of year he fight for title — crazy!” Khabib said.

“I want to fight with your (the UFC’s) chicken because this is the number one easy fight in lightweight division.”

Conor McGregor had once stated that he will sit out until the birth of his first son, who’s due date is in May, but a recent instagram post by coach John Kavanagh may indicate ‘The Notorious’ will return to the octagon sooner than expected.

The best way to become advanced is to drill the fundamental movements daily.

A video posted by Coach Kavanagh (@coach_kavanagh) on Jan 5, 2017 at 8:43am PST

Nurmagomedov had previously refused an interim lightweight championship bout with current UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo, as the Russian intended to fight Tony Ferguson.

After the UFC declined Ferguson’s request to be paid as much as Nurmagomedov, Khabib offered then Tony $200k of his own money to accept a lightweight bout in Russia. On Monday however, Ferguson declined the offer on “The MMA Hour,” stating that it was the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s duty to justly compensate him — not Khabib’s.

Ferguson also took to twitter today to announce his UFC return, but failed to name an opponent or a date.

Time To Get Excited Y'all!!! #ElCuCuy is coming!!! #ElCucuyViene #TeamElCucuy #TonyFergusonMMA #SnapDownCity @paradigmsm #GP #Victoryon3 pic.twitter.com/sTcLnAA6To

— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) January 7, 2017

Which bout would you like to see next? Will it be Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor, Tony Ferguson vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov, or perhaps a fight with another lightweight?

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