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Khabib Nurmagomedov Calls For 'Respect' And To Be Named Pound-For-Pound Champion

Khabib Nurmagomedov Calls For 'Respect' And To Be Named Pound-For-Pound Champion

The lightweight champion is currently second in the rankings behind light heavyweight champion Jon Jones but wants to be number one.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Khabib Nurmagomedov has called on the UFC to 'give him respect' and make him number one on their pound-for-pound list, after taking his record to 28-0.

On Saturday night Khabib became the undisputed UFC lightweight champion when he defeated Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 and the Russian has called on the UFC to now put him above Jon Jones on the pound-for-pound list.

Speaking at the post fight press scrum about his 28-0 record Khabib said, "You know what's interesting in this sport? Even if you're 28-0, 12-0 in UFC, you're one of the biggest stars, you smash everybody, people (are) going to talk about, 'You have to fight with him,' 'You have to fight with him.'

"Give me respect. Put me (as the) No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter next week. I think I deserve this because I dominate all my opponents. I'm undefeated. I think I deserve some respect."

Khabib puts Poirier in a choke hold. Image: PA Images
Khabib puts Poirier in a choke hold. Image: PA Images

Jones didn't return to the top of the pound-for-pound rankings on the back of his own victory but on the back of a loss for long time rival Daniel Cormier.

The former two weight world champions loss to Stipe Miocic, which returned the heavyweight title back to the man DC had beaten for the belt, which saw him drop six places down to sixth.

Nurmagomedov currently sits second behind Bones but his 12th UFC win in-a-row could take him above the light heavyweight champion when the new rankings are out next week.

Behind 'the Eagle' is two weight world champion Henry Cejudo followed by Miocic and Amanda Nunes to round off the top five.

Max Holloway, Cormier, Poirier, Kamaru Usman and Tony Ferguson currently sit in the top ten but Poirier could drop out following his loss to Khabib.

Jones currently sits at the top of the rankings. Image: PA Images
Jones currently sits at the top of the rankings. Image: PA Images

Khabib's win on Saturday came following 11 months out of the octagon after his fight against Conor McGregor resulted in a six month ban for the Russian.

Next up for the undefeated champion is likely to be Tony Ferguson, who has had four previous scheduled fights with 30-year-old called off.

If Ferguson can't make the fight for whatever reason then McGregor could get his chance at redemption, though right now it doesn't look like anyone can beat Khabib.

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Topics: Khabib Nurmagomedov, Amanda Nunes, Jon Jones, Dustin Poirier, Stipe Miocic, Daniel Cormier, UFC News, MMA News, Max Holloway, Henry Cejudo, MMA