UFC Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is open to reconciling with Conor McGregor following their post-fight melee at UFC 229 last month.
Members of both McGregor’s and Nurmagomedov’s camps were embroiled in a post-fight brawl following Nurmagomedov’s submission victory in the fight with the Dagestani and McGregor now both set to appear in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission for a disciplinary hearing regarding their actions at the event.
Nurmagomedov took exception to McGregor’s comments on his religion and his personal life during the pre-fight build up to the fight and said that he wants to change the game to place more of an emphasis on respecting the opponent.
However, ahead of his hearing with the NSAC next week, Nurmagomedov has said that he’s open to putting his differences with McGregor aside as he looks to resume his undefeated career in the lightweight division.
“Everything is possible,” Nurmagomedov told the Press Association.
“Just as McGregor and I feuded, so we could reconcile. Who are we not to forgive one another when the Almighty forgives us?”
Nurmagomedov has been rumoured to fight in a crossover bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. – pending how he fares with the Nevada State Athletic Commission – while McGregor had been linked with a fight against UFC veteran and one-time contender Donald Cerrone.
Cerrone intends to return to lightweight after a 10-fight spell at 170lbs and UFC President Dana White, whose claims are always to be taken with a grain of salt, shot down suggestions that the promotion was working on a match-up between Cerrone and McGregor.
“That’s not true,” White told TMZ Sports. “Absolutely not true. Obviously that’s the fight that ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone wants but that’s not true.
“We haven’t even thought about an opponent for either one of those guys yet, meaning Khabib or Conor.”