Conor McGregor receives fresh message from Khabib after fight negotiations are confirmed
CONOR MCGREGOR has been told by Khabib Nurmagomedov to put up or shut up as an announcement on their proposed mega-fight edges closer.
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Late last week, Nurmagomedov revealed that negotiations for him to fight his predecessor at the summit of the lightweight division were underway, much to the delight of many.
“I’m going to defend my title, Inshallah (god willing), this year. This year, I want to defend my title,” Nurmagomedov said during a Live Raise Broadcast.
“About opponents, I don’t know, to be honest. I don’t know. But the UFC is working on fight, me versus Conor.”
Nurmagomedov was asked about his proposed meeting with McGregor during a recent media appearance and doubled down on his claim that the UFC brass are 'working on' his eagerly-anticipated showdown with 'The Notorious'.
And during it, he issued Irishman yet another chilling message.
"I do not need to negotiate with you, do not need to call and ask me,” ‘The Eagle’ said. "Just send me the contract.
"Yes, negotiations are underway. But you need to persuade him and not me.
I do not need to negotiate with you, do not need to call and ask me. Just send me contract.
"You need to explain to him, 'He will not beat you hard.' Agree to fight."
A fight between Nurmagomedov and McGregor has been on the cards ever since the UFC brass snubbed the former for a title shot at UFC 205 and gave it to their poster boy.
However, the fire for a bout between the pair well and truly ignited at the UFC 223 media day in Brooklyn, where McGregor threw a dolly through the window of a bus carrying Nurmagomedov and his fellow fighters.
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A date for McGregor versus Nurmagomedov is still very much in the air, but Ireland's first UFC belt holder can foresee the fight happening by year's end.
"It’s the obvious fight," the SBG Ireland head coach said during a Q&A with Robin Black in Dublin. "As his coach and as fan of MMA, it’s the fight I want to see evolve.
"I would almost bet anything that fight happens before the end of the year.
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"I can’t imagine it not happening."
McGregor, 29, hasn't set foot inside the Octagon since his historic UFC 205 victory over Eddie Alvarez, a triumph which saw him become the promotion's first simultaneous two-weight world champion.
Nurmagomedov, meanwhile, last fought in April at UFC 223, where he became the new ruler of the lightweight division with a unanimous decision victory over Al Iaquinta.