Khabib Nurmagomedov is left confused by the UFC's matchmaking as of late.
The promotion put together a stacked card at UFC 300 featuring a lightweight tournament of sorts.
On Apr. 13, it's a tale of two title eliminators as BMF titleholder Justin Gaethje takes on former featherweight champ Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira takes on fellow top contender Arman Tsarukyan.
Retired UFC Champion Nurmagomedov has no clue why Holloway, a longtime featherweight, was even brought to the lightweight mix in the first place. With Gaethje pitted against 'Blessed', this leaves no one for reigning champ and Nurmagomedov's teammate Islam Makhachev at the moment.
"All respect for Max Holloway, but I don't know, and I don't understand why UFC make this fight. Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway, it no make sense," Nurmagomedov told MMA Junkie.
"My opinion, Holloway is supposed to fight with (Ilia) Topuria next, maybe September. Justin Gaethje supposed to fight with Islam (in) May, June. Tsarukyan vs. Oliveira, they fight (in) April, who wins (fights winner of) Islam vs. Justin Gaethje. [Winners of each fight] supposed to fight end of the year in Abu Dhabi. This is, I think, more makes sense."
Nurmagomedov says Holloway's BMF title fight vs. Gaethje not only affects the lightweight division, but featherweight as well.
"Now (Ilia) Topuria, he will fight with who?" Nurmagomedov said of the new featherweight champion. "If Holloway lose, he will fight... Movsar (Evloev) is the best option, but I don't know if Dana White will give him [a title shot].But my opinion, he deserve this.
"I don't understand. No make sense why they don't give Islam Justin Gaethje. Why they make him fight vs. Holloway? I don't understand what UFC have planned, but Islam ready to fight with anybody."
The UFC apparently knows not to deal with Nurmagomedov directly, not since his retirement back at UFC 254. However, the promotion did reach out to his manager Ali Abdelaziz to see if the Hall of Famer would be interested in coming back at UFC 300.
Nearly four years out of the sport, Nurmagomedov's stance on a UFC return hasn't changed one bit.
"Honestly, no," Nurmagomedov said, when asked if he had any interest in fighting on the historic card. "I know they connect with Ali, but I told Ali last maybe one year, it doesn't matter who call you, but never call me about fight. We have deal. Like, directly with me, nobody connect.
"But I know with Ali connect some people from UFC, but I told already once, and I told, like a lot of times for all these people who try to bring me back. Like, I decide this in 2020, October. It was my last fight and I will never change this."
If you use any quotes from this article, please leave an H/T to MMAKnockout.com for the transcription.
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