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Nurmagomedov pushing for Ferguson bout: He's the 'real champion'

Adam Hunger / USA TODAY

Khabib Nurmagomedov hopes the fourth time will be the charm.

Now healthy and itching to get back in the saddle, the lightweight contender told Ariel Helwani on Monday's edition of "The MMA Hour" he's still pining for a fight with newly crowned interim champion Tony Ferguson - preferably before the year is out at UFC 219.

The pair have seen three dates fall through, with Nurmagomedov pulling out of their interim title bout not 48 hours prior to UFC 209 due to a health scare. But while UFC president Dana White has maintained that Ferguson - whom Nurmagomedov deems the division's rightful king - will meet undisputed champ Conor McGregor in a title unification bout next, the Russian believes a rubber match with Nate Diaz is at the top of the brass' docket.

"We have almost 12 weeks, 11 weeks before UFC 219," Nurmagomedov said, per MMA Fighting's Shaun Al-Shatti. "And now is the beginning a very interesting moment in my life. I hope UFC gives me a championship fight. End of the year, I want to take everything back. Attention, belts; I want to take everything. End of the year, I want to fix everything. And we’ll see what happens. But first of all, I think UFC has to make the fight, Conor vs. Nate Diaz III, and after, me and Tony.

"Because, my opinion, I think Tony Ferguson is the real champion. That’s why. I don’t think, if I fight versus Tony Ferguson, this is an interim belt. Officially, yes. But people want to see me versus Tony Ferguson. I think this is a much better fight, for everything. If I beat Tony Ferguson and take the interim championship belt - Conor’s the official champion, but he’s not the people’s champion."

Nurmagomedov's late withdrawal from UFC 209 made him persona non grata with Ferguson - who's since set his sights on McGregor - but the Dagestan native believes the interim champ won't get much of a word in edgewise when McGregor decides to get back in the saddle. In other words, he's confident Ferguson will be sharing the cage with him on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas.

"I don’t think he makes the decision," Nurmagomedov said. "What happens if UFC tells him, 'Hey, Conor is going to fight with Diaz. You have to fight with Khabib.' What happens? He has to take this fight.

"And I want to send a message: 'Enjoy this belt.' He deserves this, 10-(fight) win streak. My opinion, he’s the real champ, and he has to fight with me. We have to fight, and we have to do this fight for all the fans. Now I am ready, now I am healthy. Last time, I made the problem. This is my fault, last time. I know this. But before, he pulled out too. You have to remember this. Now he’s the real champ. Enjoy this. See you at the end of the year."

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