There is no shortage of options for UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov’s first title defense.<\/p>\n
The most likely option of course, is former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor<\/a>, who was ultimately stripped of both titles for inactivity. McGregor was recently tied up with a legal debacle stemming from his crazed April rampage in Brooklyn, but is essentially now clear to compete if he so chooses.<\/a><\/p>\n Then there’s Dustin Poirier, who won big with a second round drubbing of former champion Eddie Alvarez in the main event of UFC on Fox 30 last weekend. With this win, Poirier improved to 8-1 with one no contest since returning to the UFC lightweight division from the featherweight division. Having scored stoppages in six of these eight lightweight wins, his claim to a title shot is incredibly strong.<\/p>\n Then, of course, there’s former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson. With the exception of the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov, Ferguson is riding the most impressive win-streak in the UFC lightweight division, having bested his last 10 foes, including Edson Barboza, Rafael dos Anjos and Kevin Lee. Unfortunately, he can’t seem to stay healthy.<\/p>\n During a brief chat with BJPenn.com’s Chris Taylor during last weekend’s UFC on Fox 30 festivities, Nurmagomedov provided a bit of clarity as to who is next.<\/p>\n All signs point to Khabib vs Conor at #UFC229<\/a> in Las Vegas. Nurmagomedov told me \u201cConor\u2019s next\u201d and suggested \u201cPoirier can fight Ferguson\u201d. #UFConFOX<\/a><\/p>\n — Chris Taylor (@CTaylor_96) July 29, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n