‘Will probably be one hell of a spectacle’: McGregor talks up Moscow bout with Khabib as UFC boss Dana White says rematch IS NEXT

No sooner had Conor McGregor seen off Donald Cerrone than the Irishman was coaching his sights once more on Khabib Nurmagomedov, insisting he would enterprise to the homeland of his Russian nemesis for a rematch.

McGregor made his octagon comeback in some fashion in Las Vegas on Saturday night time, destroying ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone in simply 40 seconds into their welterweight fundamental occasion at UFC 246. 

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The great nature of that victory meant the Irishman went some approach to erasing the painful recollections from his final outing on the identical venue, when he suffered a fourth-round submission defeat to UFC light-weight ruler Khabib 15 months beforehand. 

McGregor has made no secret of the truth that he’s hell-bent on avenging his defeat to the Russian, reiterating that want at his post-fight press convention at T-Cellular Area on Saturday – even saying he wished any rematch to occur in Moscow. 

“I like Russia, I like the Russian individuals. I went to Moscow lately, they’re such an ideal nation and so they’re passionate in regards to the sport of blended martial arts,” McGregor mentioned. 

#UFC president Dana White isn't too eager on the thought of Conor McGregor rematching Khabib Nurmagomedov in Russia. However @TheNotoriousMMA mentioned he'd completely like to battle @TeamKhabib in entrance of the Russian followers. #UFC246 pic.twitter.com/zsBn2Yyq12

— RT Sport (@RTSportNews) January 19, 2020

“They’re so obsessed with myself and so they assist me enormously, they assist Correct Quantity Twelve Irish whiskey.

“They know liquid, they know spirit. So they’re a good-spirited individuals. What a spot, it will be like one thing out of a rocky film. So I’d be very keen to do this.”

Certainly, it was on a promotional journey to Moscow again in October when McGregor introduced his octagon comeback plans for 2020, which he mentioned included a rematch with Khabib. 

The primary a part of the Irishman’s plan – beating Cerrone – has now been completed, though he admitted that UFC chiefs would seemingly push for any rematch with Khabib to happen in Las Vegas.   

“Dana [White] the hometown Vegas boy, I do know he’d be keen to do this [fight in Vegas], I do know the Vegas individuals will likely be campaigning for it. Let’s see what occurs. I’d love that. I wish to create spectacles for the individuals, and that’s one hell of a spectacle,” McGregor mentioned. 

“Even me going on the market [to Moscow] that one time. The place shut down, the world took discover. Your man was saying I wasn’t allowed on the market, I wasn’t purported to be on the market.

“They have been working the streets screaming my identify. So I’m extra Russian than that man. I’d like to go to Russia and compete there.”

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As the most important money-spinner within the UFC ranks, McGregor just isn’t a person wanting choices having made his octagon return in such spectacular style. 

MMA followers are clamouring for a battle with UFC ‘BMF’ Jorge Masvidal, who was the consensus fighter of the yr in 2019, and who has mentioned he could be eager to fulfill the Irishman.

However UFC Dana White has put the brakes on that notion, once more signalling on Saturday night time that he would like McGregor to have one other shot at Khabib – who himself defends his light-weight title in opposition to Tony Ferguson in New York in April.

“There’s at all times any person on the market enjoyable, and all people desires to match up with Conor… If you take a look at what is sensible, Conor himself has mentioned that going into the Khabib battle he had a lot of stuff, a lot of private stuff, some stuff self-inflicted, he had accidents… He has been obsessive about getting that rematch, as a result of he is aware of he wasn’t 100 p.c proper.

#UFC president Dana White says the battle to make subsequent for Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) is a light-weight title rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) #UFC246 pic.twitter.com/VsVAUZs6ae

— RT Sport (@RTSportNews) January 19, 2020

“If you take a look at Khabib, to begin with, this child’s 28-Zero, to go 28-Zero on this sport is hard to do. This man’s a world champion. After tonight, and with how Khabib received the primary battle, and the way well-known Khabib has turn into for the reason that first battle, we’re taking a look at Hagler-Hearns, Ali-Foreman, Ali-Frazier,” White mentioned. 

“It is a huge battle with world enchantment. It’s the battle that you simply make. It’s the battle that is sensible, for the 155lbs title.

“If Conor and Masvidal battle, neither one in all them has a title, though Conor does need his BMF title. He doesn’t have a world championship.

“Khabib’s the battle to make, it’s enormous for his legacy too. If he beats Conor McGregor, then he beats Tony Ferguson, then he beats Conor McGregor once more, that is how this child retires, he’s 30-Zero and he’s crushed all the very best.”     

A big spanner within the works is that one fundamental a part of the equation – particularly Khabib – has dismissed any notion of dealing with the Irishman once more anytime quickly.

The undefeated Russian mentioned of McGregor’s bout with Cerrone that it was a “minor-league” battle, and that McGregor would want to “win 10 fights in a row” to earn a rematch with him.     

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There stays the appreciable monetary acquire from a rematch, nevertheless, after the pair’s first assembly in October 2018 smashed UFC pay-per-view-records, propelling Khabib to world stardom. 

No matter occurs, the profitable return of ‘The Infamous’ has ensured 2020 has begun with a bang within the UFC, with the prospects intriguing from right here on out.