Nurmagomedov shuts down move to welterweight
Don't expect to see UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov facing off against welterweight titleholder Kamaru Usman anytime soon.
"I want to stay at 155 (pounds)," Nurmagomedov said at the UFC 242 press conference ahead of his title defense against Dustin Poirier. "If they make 165, maybe, or 160. But in 170 I’m not big like in 155 and I know Kamaru Usman, I don’t know why you ask this question. Maybe he called you? I have a lot of fights at 155.”
Nurmagomedov (27-0) captured the vacant lightweight title in April 2017 after defeating Al Iaquinta by decision at UFC 223. The 30-year-old is scheduled to unify his championship against interim lightweight titleholder Poirier when the two clash in the main event of UFC 242.
In the last year, we've seen Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and most recently Henry Cejudo win titles in two different weight classes. One of the potential lightweight matchups for "The Eagle" won't be former champion Conor McGregor, as Nurmagomedov doesn't believe he deserves a rematch.
"He tapped. He begged me, 'Please, don't kill me.' Now he talk about a rematch. Tony Ferguson on the line, people who have win streaks on the line, but not the guy who don't win nothing last three years."
UFC 242 takes place Sept. 7 in Abu Dhabi, Dubai. Watch the full press conference below.