Khabib Nurmagomedov Feels He Deserves a Title Shot

Khabib Nurmagomedov spoke with MMAjunkie about his fight with Michael Johnson at UFC 205 and more. Highlights are below:

On a title shot: “I care about the belt. I want to finish this fight and fight for the title. I don’t care who has the title, who wins (between Alvarez and McGregor). I don’t care about money. I know a lot of fighters fight for the money, but money is not everything for me. I know money is very important for life, but I have money. I never use MMA to make money. MMA for me is about my life, about my blood and about everything I do all my life. Money, I can make money with other stuff. I have money. I have everything. I need the belt…I feel I deserve a title shot because this is not about my UFC career, this is about my whole career. Eight-and-a-half years I’ve gone undefeated. I am undefeated, and after Michael Johnson I hope UFC gives me a title shot. We’ll see.”

On believing he was a pawn to create McGregor vs. Alvarez: “First of all, UFC sent me two agreements for UFC 206 and UFC 205 – I signed both of them. Before that, UFC asked me to fight with him in October and August. Four times Alvarez didn’t take this fight. I feel the UFC a little bit used my name to make this fight, Alvarez vs. McGregor, because McGregor ask for some money, Alvarez ask for some money, that’s why this fight is not happening. Then UFC put my name and send me two contracts, two agreements. McGregor understands, ‘Wow, this guy can beat Alvarez.’ He can put new rules. Alvarez understands I cannot take an easy fight like McGregor. I think both of them are a little bit scared. That’s why this fight happened. But first of all UFC use my name.”

On Johnson: “Michael Johnson is tough guy. I don’t think this fight is an easy fight. I think he has the best hands in the lightweight division. His movement is very good. He beat already (Edson) Barboza, he beat already Tony Ferguson, he knocked out Dustin Poirier. He’s a tough guy. I know my style for him is very bad. I know this. He has to move too much because I can catch him and grab him, take him down and submit him or make him tired then ground-and-pound and finish him. He understands this. Everybody understands I’m a strong wrestler and he’s a very fast boxer. For me, for fans, it’s a very interesting fight.”