With the massive success of the first Khabib Nurmagomedov–Conor McGregor fight in 2018, it’s logical from a monetary standpoint to follow it up with a sequel. But as far as Team Khabib is concerned, that ship has sailed.
In a recent conversation with TMZ Sports, manager Ali Abdelaziz broke the news about a supposed offer from the UFC to have Khabib and McGregor as two opposing coaches for an upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter. That proposition, however, went nowhere.
“Last week Dana White called me,” Abdelaziz said (transcript by MMA Fighting). “He said, ‘Ali, what do you think if Khabib win, him and Conor do The Ultimate Fighter on ESPN?’ This is breaking news. I said, ‘I don’t know. I’ll think about it.’ And he said, of course, [vice versa] if Justin win.
“It would be Khabib vs. Conor on The Ultimate Fighter, coaching. It would have been f—king huge. Probably would have went to the hospital because he would have beat his ass and his whole team. Or Justin Gaethje vs. [McGregor].
“I talked with Khabib yesterday,” Abelaziz added. “He said, ‘This man is human trash. He’s like garbage. When you touch sh-t, you smell sh-t.’ He said, ‘He doesn’t earn the fight. You understand? He doesn’t earn the fight.’”
Right now, Khabib’s focus is set on Justin Gaethje, whom he faces at UFC 254. As far as the McGregor rematch goes, Abdelaziz is already putting it all behind them.
“Hey, if he wants to do The Ultimate Fighter with he can,” Abdelaziz said of McGregor. “If he wants to do Kamaru Usman, The Ultimate Fighter with Khamzat Chimaev, yes he can. If Justin choose to, that’s okay too.
“He can forget about Khabib. He can forget about the rematch. Done. Dead. Never. Khabib will never fight him.”
UFC 254 takes place on October 24 in “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi.
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