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MMA

29th Dec 2017

Khabib Nurmagomedov eyeing up potential superfight at featherweight

Out of nowhere

Ben Kiely

Khabib Nurmagomedov

Khabib Nurmagomedov has a big, big task ahead of him at UFC 219.

Undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov passed the first test by making 155.5 lbs for his co-main event. Next up, is the fight itself against Edson Barboza who may very well be his toughest test to date.

On paper, Barboza is a nightmare challenge for Nurmagomedov. He is a dynamic striker whose sole objective will be keeping the fight standing. He also has that added flair that makes him a knockout threat at any stage of the fight.

The only thing is, on paper, Nurmagomedov is an awful match-up for just about everyone. The 24 fighters who’ve tried and failed to steal his 0 will tell you all about how difficult the grappling monster is to beat.

It wasn’t that long ago when people were suggesting Nurmagomedov should move up to welterweight. After his botched weight cut ruined one of the most intriguing match-ups ever against Tony Ferguson, some folks were calling for him to change divisions.

However, as he told UFC reporter Megan Olivi, this weight cut’s been going so well, a cut down to featherweight may be on the cards in the future.

“I feel great. My weight is very good. To be honest, I am thinking about next fight maybe I am going to 145.”

“We are thinking about this. I am going to focus on Barboza first, but we’ll see. Maybe 145. We’re gonna see, with my team, we’re going to see first of all how I feel Friday morning. We’ll see. We’re gonna make a plan.”

“Maybe I’m gonna take the 155 belt and then fight for the title — champion vs. champion – at 145. I think I can make this weight, 145, too. This time things are very different. I changed a lot of things. Eat like champion, train like champion, sleep like champion — everything.”