UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov has branded the organisation a "freak show" after the confirmation that featherweight champion Conor McGregor would face lightweight counterpart Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205, despite president Dana White saying he would have a shot at the latter's title.
After the UFC announced the fight, which gives Notorious the chance to collect Alvarez's lightweight belt, the Russian took to social media:
He also voiced his displeasure on Twitter (warning: contains NSFW language):
White had previously stated on social media that Nurmagomedov would be the one headlining the event alongside Alvarez, rather than McGregor:
UFC writer Mike Dyce summarised the reaction to the news:
The 28-year-old holds an impressive 23-0 record in MMA, but his fight against UFC newcomer Darrell Horcher in April was his first in two-and-a-half years because of injury.
A specialist on the mat, the Eagle is among the best wrestlers in the sport and his skills could cause problems for either Alvarez or McGregor—a title bout with the former would have made for an intriguing showdown.
Severe MMA's Andrew McGahon gave his take on how Nurmagomedov should respond:
Indeed, it seems as though the Russian already has a new challenger in Michael Johnson—an opponent he's willing to accept:
According to MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew, White himself confirmed that bout agreements had indeed been sent to Alvarez with a view to fighting at "at both UFC 205 and UFC 206."
While Nurmagomedov is understandably unhappy after White had publicly declared the fight was going ahead, if Alvarez did refuse the bouts then the UFC may have had little alternative but to secure another opponent and McGregor is undoubtedly the most lucrative fighter available.
If the Russian can maintain and extend his impressive record, it will likely earn him a title shot in the future.
After just one fight since his return to fitness—against a largely unknown fighter, no less—he needs to do more to put himself back in the frame. Testing himself in more difficult bouts before heading straight into a title fight will also better prepare him for facing Alvarez or McGregor in the future, so in the long run it may prove to be a blessing in disguise.
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