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Khabib Nurmagomedov Manager Speaks Out On Conor McGregor Rematch

Khabib Nurmagomedov Manager Speaks Out On Conor McGregor Rematch

Ali Abdelaziz admits there's a lot of money on the table for Khabib's UFC return.

Alex Reid

Alex Reid

Khabib Nurmagomedov's manager Ali Abdelaziz has delivered a fiery verdict on the possibility of 'The Eagle' returning to UFC and rematching with Conor McGregor.

The undefeated former UFC lightweight champion made an emotional retirement speech after his October win over Justin Gaethje, confirming he wouldn't fight on after his father and coach, Abdulmanap, had died in the summer.

However the 32-year-old still looks at the peak of his powers and will be on UFC's Fight Island in Abu Dhabi to watch McGregor's rematch with Dustin Poirier later this month.

Dana White is having a meeting with the 29-0 Khabib, presumably to see if there's any possibility he might change his mind and return to the Octagon. But Abdelaziz claims that even a £100 million offer to rematch McGregor might not appeal to the Russian MMA legend.

"[Would] beating Conor McGregor mean anything? I don't know," Abdelaziz told TMZ Sports. "But I think it would mean a lot for the fans, and I think financially, it's a huge fight. But we know Khabib. It's hard to persuade him financially.

"But my man Dana White and Khabib, they're going to meet. I think they're going to meet in Abu Dhabi, and after that, Khabib's going to come to Vegas and they're going to go to dinner in Vegas, and we're going to figure it out.

"Like I said, this is big boys' business. I'm going to let them do what they do, and I'll be a fan."

Nurmagomedov's 2018 win over McGregor was conclusive, as he largely dominated the charismatic Irishman on his way to a fourth-round submission victory. Unpleasant post-fight scenes then erupted, resulting in lengthy bans for both fighters.

Abdelaziz makes it clear that it's Khabib's decision whether he returns to MMA in 2021. But he's brutal in his assessment on the chances McGregor has in a second fight with the Russian.

"He beat the [expletive] out of Conor," Abdelaziz told TMZ. "He did everything he wanted to do. He beat him in the striking department, he beat him in the wrestling department, he beat him in the grappling department.

"He broke his soul. He took his will.

"We don't really care about him. Somebody might say $100 million or something like that. I don't think [that] would persuade Khabib, if Khabib did want to fight. I really don't know. I really didn't pressure Khabib or ask him about it too much. I let him be."

Abdelaziz did name the one dream fight he believes might tempt Khabib out of retirement: a chance to fight Georges St-Pierre.

However if even a $100 million payday wouldn't persuade Nurmagomedov to rematch with McGregor, then it seems almost certain we'll never see a second grudge match - even if Khabib does decide to take up White's offer to return to the UFC this year.

Featured image credit: Instagram

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Topics: Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor Mcgregor, UFC News, MMA News, Khabib vs McGregor, Mixed Martial Arts, Fight News, UFC, MMA