UFC lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov has been sidelined with injuries but is eyeing 2016 to be his year. Nurmagomedov appeared on the MMA Hour and shared his thoughts on the lightweight landscape as well as the featherweight champion Conor McGregor (transcribed by MMA Fighting):

“I think, first of all, I need to stay healthy, and next year, I think March is a perfect date for me,” Nurmagomedov told Ariel Helwani on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour. “I need to fight somebody in March and fight for the title maybe [at] UFC 200…This is my little dream now.”

Nurmagomedov also spoke about the contenders in the lightweight division that he has his eyes on.

“I think it’s perfect [if I fight] [Anthony] Pettis or [Eddie] Alvarez, or I think maybe Tony Ferguson,” he said. “If the UFC doesn’t give him [Ferguson] a title fight, I think we need to fight for the number-one contender fight. Tony Ferguson has a seven-[fight] win[ning] streak, and he deserves a title shot or a fight with me.”

With Conor McGregor also a potential threat to the lightweight title, “The Eagle” says McGregor has at least one more fight at featherweight to deal with.

“I think, my opinion, [is that] Conor has to stay in featherweight division,” Nurmagomedov said. “Because, if he moves to lightweight, a lot of people will say, ‘Hey, you [haven’t done] everything in featherweight. Because you have one beef here. This is Frankie Edgar.’ And everyone agrees with me.

“This is first. I think Conor needs to stay in [145] and fight for the title with Frankie.”

Do you agree with Nurmagomedov? Share your thoughts in the comments!