Khabib Nurmagomedov says defending belt, not winning new ones is key to improving legacy
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Khabib Nurmagomedov is 27-0 and entering the conversation of the greatest fighters of all-time.
He is set to defend his lightweight title for the second time in the main event of UFC 242 when he takes on the current interim champion, Dustin Poirier.
Yet, ahead of the fight, many were hoping he rematches Conor McGregor or even go up to welterweight to try and become a champ-champ. At welterweight, there are very good wrestlers like Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington that could be a challenge for him. However, Khabib Nurmagomedov doesn’t want to do that as he has no interest in super fights for a simple reason. Legacy.
“I think if you want to improve your legacy by changing weight classes, I don’t think this is help for you,” Nurmagomedov said on the UFC 242 media call. “Only one thing helps for you. You have to beat up-and-comers. What about when you beat tough opponents and you’re still undefeated more than the others. I think this is going to improve your legacy.”
It is a unique stance many champions are not doing.
In today’s UFC, many champions are going up in weight looking to become a champ-champ. But, champions like Anderson Silva and Jon Jones who have stayed at one weight class during their reign are considered the greatest of all-time, which Khabib Nurmagomedov wants to be recognized as.
“If you lose couple times and you win one title, second title, you lose again, and then you win third title, this does not make you great,” Nurmagomedov said. “My opinion, when you’re undefeated long time and you never lose, this is when it’s real thing. When you go to the cage and again, again, again, you win, win, win, win, that helps to talk about ‘this guy is tough’. I don’t focus on welterweight or featherweight, my focus is the lightweight division.”
“I’m a real lightweight and my fights are going to be in the lightweight division. I don’t want to change any weight classes. I want to focus on my weight division.”
The hope for Nurmagomedov is he can defend his belt against a ‘tough challenge’ in Dustin Poirier. Then, after that, he already knows who is next and it is not the McGregor rematch that made him millions.
“There’s only Tony Ferguson,” Nurmagomedov said. “Of course, I think he deserves. Who else? Nobody. Only Tony Ferguson I think.”
First, the Russian will need to beat Dustin Poirier to defend his title and continue his legacy.
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The Scrap’s Cole Shelton is a full-time MMA writer for various news outlets. Make sure to follow Cole on Twitter (@ColeShelton91) for a variety of content.
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