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Khabib Nurmagomedov has one of the toughest challenges of his career in front of him for next week. Despite being just over a week away from his fight against Justin Gaethje, Khabib is still doing his best to take care of those in close proximity.
A lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje will headline UFC 254 next weekend. Khabib’s close partner, Islam Makhachev, was also scheduled to fight on the undercard. However, his opponent Rafael Dos Anjos withdrew after testing positive for Coronavirus. Consequently, Islam is now without an opponent.
If Islam doesn’t fight at UFC 254, his countless hours of efforts in the gym would be wasted. Therefore, Khabib sent a message to Chael Sonnen, like a Hail Mary, to get the ball rolling for Makhachev next weekend.
“(Khabib) said, ‘Chael, I watch your videos, I need to tell you something. I want to make this very clear, ”Sonnen recounted. “He said, ‘There is no one closer to me than Islam.’ And he said, ‘I’m telling you right now, if Michael Chandler beats Islam, I’ll see Michael Chandler (as) the number one contender, and I want you to get the message across.’
I said, ‘Okay, Khabib, when I get the message I’ll say you called me, you told me this.’ He says, ‘That’s what I’m doing. Get that message across, ‘”Chael Sonnen said in a video posted on his YouTube channel.
Khabib Nurmagomedov also criticized Michael Chandler for not knowing Islam Makhachev
Khabib is very close to his teammate Islam Makhachev. Although Islam has yet to break into the top 10 of the UFC lightweight rankings, Khabib knows his toughness. In some ways, Khabib sees Islam in the same position it once was in its early days with promotion.
In an interview with Yahoo Sports, Khabib criticized his fellow lightweights for not knowing who he is. He also took aim at Chandler by mentioning his loss to Patricio Freire.
While Khabib wants Chandler to confront Islam, Dana White thinks otherwise. At the press conference after the UFC weigh-ins at Fight Island 6, White closed the door to a fight between the two. The UFC supreme wants to book a fight for Chandler. However, he is willing to wait until UFC 254.
In regards to Islam, White added that he is also working to book him a fight soon.
Read more: “Who are you?” – Khabib Nurmagomedov attacks Michael Chandler
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