Khabib Nurmagomedov became the UFC Lightweight Champion after defeating Al Iaquinta by decision in the main event of UFC 223.
Conor McGregor is the former lightweight champion and Nurmagomedov wants him to beg for a shot at the gold.
“I hope he’s going to fight – we have to fight,” Nurmagomedov said to MMA Junkie. “Like make World Tour. Everywhere, like Tokyo, Moscow, Dublin, Los Angeles, Rio. Big world tour, promote this fight and fight end of year, biggest arena in the world. Madison Square Garden. … I’m here. He want to become lightweight champion? He have to fight with me. No more all these fake champions. You guys remember when he put tweet, ‘Beg me.’ Please beg me.”
McGregor and his associates caused a ruckus this past Thursday when they attacked a bus full of UFC fighters, allegedly trying to get their hands on Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov knows the issues with McGregor need to be resolved, whether inside or outside of the Octagon.
“We have to finish this beef, chicken or something like this,” Nurmagomedov said. “He have to stop eating Burger Kings. You want to fight? Come. I told you guys, I’m going to make him humble. I’m going to change his game. Now only one champion. No more fake champions, no more champion who never defend his title or something like this. Now UFC has champion, and this champion wants to defend his title. You want to fight? Come here. Inside the cage? Come. Outside the cage? Come. Let me know without camera, without like all this media.”
When Nurmagomedov became the champion at UFC 223, it was the Irishman who was stripped of that gold to make it happen.
