No thanks
Khabib Nurmagomedov could be cleared to fight as soon as April. All he needs to do is record a public service announcement on behalf of the Nevada Athletic Commission and his suspension will be reduced from nine to six months. As simple as it sounds, Nurmagomedov has no interest in helping out the state that fined and suspended he and his teammates last week. He also seems to think that Nevada shouldn’t be ones to preach what is good behavior to anyone.
“[The NSAC] said to take part in a social campaign… the state of Nevada is a place where they allow drugs, prostitution, and gambling,” Khabib said in a Russian interview on Sportbox (translated by Bloody Elbow).
“Let them work on themselves [and their own behavior]. There were fighters who didn’t fight for two years and didn’t have their belts taken for a year and a half.
“I’m ready to fight, they were the ones who banned me.”
Nurmagomedov has been very upset since the nine-month suspension and $500,000 fine was handed down along with a one-year ban for two of his teammates who were also involved in the UFC 229 post-fight brawl. From the sounds of things, he will be more than happy to sit out until July or perhaps longer.
3 Reasons Why
Daniel Cormier was pretty quick to respond to Stipe Miocic’s YouTube video detailing why Cormier owes him a rematch for the UFC heavyweight title. Cormier isn’t keen on the idea, to put it lightly. In a tweet, Cormier outlined three reasons why Miocic shouldn’t get a rematch anytime soon.
“Reason 1: he’s being entitled, why have I fought since and he hasn’t. He lost the fight is he still the champ? Reason 2: I’m hurt. Reason3: how do I do it better? I beat him in a round last time ?”
https://t.co/sQF4Wu5q6P
Cormier makes a solid case against Miocic who used his newborn daughter as motivation to push for the fight. With Cormier refusing a rematch while waiting out some other options, Miocic may be best served to get back in the cage soon against another top heavyweight and make his case that way.
Living Hell
Dana White has made it clear that Colby Covington is no longer UFC interim welterweight champion and that if he wants a shot at the official champion, he’ll have to earn it. This doesn’t make Covington happy, who feels he is owed a title shot and is willing to take things to court in order to get it.
“We may have to go to court, and this may be a lawsuit, because let’s be honest: If (Tom) Brady wins the AFC championship … and just all of a sudden Roger Goodell says, ‘You’re not going to the Super Bowl because we don’t like you’ – no, that’s not how it works,” Covington told MMAjunkie Radio.
Covington has also gotten to a point where he doesn’t care if his comments ruffle feathers at the UFC, he just wants what he feels he’s earned.
“I don’t care what Uncle Fester has to say. I’m the No. 1 ranked fighter in the world. Go look it up on the UFC website. I had a belt wrapped around my waist by Uncle Fester. I was the only fighter to go the White House. What else do you have to do? What’s the criteria to get a title shot these days?”
Current champ Tyron Woodley takes on Kamaru Usman at UFC 235 next month. In the meantime, Covington will have to come up with a plan to get his name back in the mix. Lawsuit or no lawsuit, Covington sounds confident that his day will come.
“They know I am the biggest draw in the welterweight division and soon to be the biggest draw in the sport. They can’t stop my progression and my growth. I’m getting better every day.”
Wednesday Notebook
–Johnny Walker told Combate that he would like to face Jimi Manuwa at the UFC event from London in March.
-Martin Day vs. Chris Gutierres has been added to UFC Nashville on March 23.
In case you missed it
–MCGRATH: Ranking the top ten female bantamweights in MMA
–ROUNDTABLE: What’s next for Jose Aldo? (UPDATED)
UFC 234 Embedded episode 2
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