UFC 205 finally has its main event, and it’s a banger. The card, which will go down on November 12 and mark the organization’s long-awaited debut in New York City, will be topped by a lightweight title fight between reigning lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, and reigning featherweight champion Conor McGregor.
News of this bout, which will give McGregor the opportunity to be the first fighter in history to own two UFC titles simultaneously, was broken by the ever-reliable Dizz (@TalkMMA) last night, and confirmed by the UFC shortly thereafter.
https://twitter.com/TalkMMA/status/780597351211737089
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/780637059111194624
Unsurprisingly, this news has thrust the fight world into a frenzy of excitement. Over the last few weeks, the UFC has packed the UFC 205 lineup with high-profile fights. Yet because the card lacked a high-profile main event, many fight fans worried it would go the way of UFC 200, entering the history books as a good card that should have been great. UFC 205’s newly announced main event transforms it into the great card everyone was hoping for.
Of course, not everybody is happy about the announcement of this Alvarez vs. McGregor bout. Top-ranked lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov, for example, is feeling a bit betrayed.
Last week, after all, we were led to believe by none other than UFC president Dana White that Alvarez’s first defense as UFC lightweight champion would be against Nurmagomedov – not McGregor. Clearly, however, this is not the case.
not true it's @TeamKhabib
— danawhite (@danawhite) September 21, 2016
Here’s how the streaking lightweight reacted to the news of UFC 205’s main event:
Just for the record @Ealvarezfight and @TheNotoriousMMA fear me I'm just a man. Your time will come to get my hands on you
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) September 27, 2016
Despite his disappointment, however, Nurmagomedov does not appear content to rest on his laurels. The undefeated lightweight is already fielding offers from other prospective opponents.
Shortly after the announcement of UFC 205’s Alvarez vs. McGregor main event, Nurmagomedov was called out by fellow lightweight contender Michael Johnson, who is riding high after a devastating KO defeat of the dangerous Dustin Poirier. Nurmagomedov did not shy away from the possibility of a bout with Johnson, quickly accepting the American’s challenge on Twitter.
any time anywhere, #205 @danawhite @ufc
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) September 27, 2016
So, while Alvarez and McGregor battle to determine the rightful king of the lightweight division, Nurmagomedov seems to want to keep busy and take a bout with another top contender in the meantime. And whether that contender is Johnson, or somebody else, he appears eager to fight sooner rather than later. Considering his long and ugly history with injury-induced layoffs, that desire to stay active his certainly understandable.
Now that we know Alvarez and McGregor are fighting, who would you like to see Nurmagomedov fight next? Sound off, PENN nation!