Top UFC lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov is eyeing his return to the Octagon at UFC 219 on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas. Nurmagomedov, who has not fought since defeating Michael Johnson last November, told Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour that he is close to full health and wants to compete against interim champion Tony Ferguson.
"The last six months I tried to fix my health. I had surgery. I tried to come back to train 100 percent," Nurmagomedov (24-0) said. "Now I'm training 100 percent. I'm healthy. I talked with the UFC, and I think 80 percent I'm fighting at the end of the year at UFC 219."
Ferguson (23-3) claimed the division's belt on Oct. 7 by defeating Kevin Lee at UFC 216. He and Nurmagomedov were initially scheduled to fight at UFC 209 in March, but the bout was canceled one day prior when Nurmagomedov was hospitalized attempting to make weight.
Nurmagomedov says he had surgery this summer to fix a back injury and now "everything is fixed."
"When I come back, I come back stronger than ever," Nurmagomedov said. "This is what I want to show people around the world -- how I improved myself. When I watched Kevin Lee beat Tony Ferguson in the first round, I'm confident 100 percent I can finish this guy in the second or third round." That is, of course, if the UFC gives him that matchup.
Ferguson has been outspoken about facing Conor McGregor for the unified lightweight title. Following his submission win against Lee earlier this month, UFC president Dana White told reporters Ferguson against McGregor is "the fight that makes sense." But there's also a strong possibility McGregor would take on Nate Diaz for the third time. The two previous fights were bloody back-and-forth battles that drew major PPV numbers.
Nurmagomedov called the trilogy "a money fight for the UFC, and the real fight is me versus Tony.
"This is my dream fight," Nurmagomedov said. "I think Tony Ferguson is the real champion. I don't think if I fight Tony Ferguson, this is for the interim belt. Officially, yes. But the people? People want to see me versus Tony Ferguson. This is a much better fight. Conor is the official champion but not the people's champion."