UFC 205: Eddie Alvarez vs. Conor McGregor or Khabib?
UFC 205 needs a main event, and it was seemingly going to be between champions Conor McGregor and Eddie Alvarez, but now Khabib Nurmagomedov is in the mix.
UFC 205 might be the biggest event the promotion holds in 2016, but first things first, a headlining bout needs to be chosen. A superfight between lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and featherweight champion Conor McGregor seemed like the most likely scenario, but recent tweets suggest that Khabib Nurmagomedov might get the lightweight title shot instead.
Conor McGregor is coming off a fight of the year-worthy performance against Nate Diaz at UFC 202. However, he has not defended his featherweight title since winning the belt in December.
Khabib Nurmagomedov is 22-0 in his career and might just be the best lightweight in the world. There’s one problem though, he’s fought just once in two years and it was a dominant performance against late replacement Darrell Horcher.
The saga began last night with this tweet from lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez suggesting he’s ready to fight McGregor.
Let's do this @TheNotoriousMMA I'm ready !! Your futures not bright enjoy this one while it last . #ItsAllOver
— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) September 21, 2016
Later that night though, Dana White claimed that Eddie Alvarez would be fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov in New York. However, we’ve seen this public negotiation tactic from White before. He’s denied Brock Lesnar’s presence on UFC 200, the sale of the promotion, among other things.
@kylemuir17 @TheNotoriousMMA @Ealvarezfight not true it's @TeamKhabib
— Dana White (@danawhite) September 21, 2016
After that, reports started pouring in that negotiations between Alvarez and McGregor fell apart.
Contracts never got signed. One party asked for too much $. The Fight never got signed so UFC are looking at an alternative #UFC205
— Jim Edwards (@MMA_Jim) September 21, 2016
Although that one party who asked for more money is unknown, McGregor later tweeted this. Speculate away.
What could this mean? Is McGregor’s tweet directed towards the UFC in an effort to allow him to keep his featherweight title? That has reportedly been a key point in the negotiations between McGregor and the upper-brass.
Or is this directed towards Alvarez? Alvarez probably wants that Nate Diaz money to fight McGregor. As we know, McGregor considers it a privilege to fight him (“I’ll change your bum life”), so he might find it off-putting that Alvarez is attempting to strong-arm negotiations hypothetically.
Where does Khabib fit into all of this? He claimed he’s signed the contract to fight Alvarez before the champion’s tweet in the beginning of this saga. This could be a trash talk tactic from the Russian, and even went on to trash talk McGregor too.
Everyone know who is the real Eagle you're both bunch of chicken your daddy @danawhite protect you One of you going to be my food soon ???????????????? https://t.co/ZPvICQWGi4
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) September 21, 2016
Next: Cris Cyborg Struggling With Weight Cut
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Of course, Alvarez vs. McGregor is a great main event for the Madison Square Garden debut. Alvarez vs. Khabib wouldn’t bring the same thunder (except with the entirety of Russia) but hey, Amanda Nunes vs. Miesha Tate headlined the most hyped card in the promotion’s history.
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