Khabib Nurmagomedov wouldn't do reality TV show with Conor McGregor for '$5 billion'
Undefeated UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov (28-0-0) is preparing for his Oct. 24 title defense versus Justin Gaethje (22-2) and has put Oct. 6, 2018 out of his mind.
That, of course, is the day he defeated former two-division champion Conor McGregor via submission.
As ESPN's Brett Okamoto explained, there have been rumors that UFC boss Dana White wanted to get Nurmagomedov and McGregor together again, this time for a reboot of the reality television series "The Ultimate Fighter" leading up to a rematch.
Nurmagomedov recently told Okamoto that won't be happening.
"This 'Ultimate Fighter' with him is good attention for him," Nurmagomedov said. "I don't want to give him this. I never give him this. Even if they give me $5 billion -- even if they gave me the UFC -- I never do this. This is good attention for him.
"And it's done. Everything is done Oct. 6. I finish him. I finish everything about him.
"I had new challenge in Dustin Poirier (a win in Sept. 2019) and now Justin Gaethje. We'll see who is gonna be next. But I don't think it's gonna be Conor McGregor."
McGregor made headlines last week when he tweeted that he wants to face Dustin Poirier (26-6-0) in the Octagon before 2020 ends. ESPN's Ariel Helwani reported that McGregor is waiting to hear back from Poirier and White about that request.
McGregor spent over a year away from the UFC following his loss to Nurmagomedov before he downed Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds back in January. Both White and Audie Attar, McGregor's agent, told ESPN in September that the 32-year-old respected as the biggest draw in the UFC today is expected to return to the promotion, in some capacity, in early 2021.
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