Conor McGregor's rematch against Khabib Nurmagomedov 'should happen' this year, UFC boss says
- Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov should fight again in 2019, the UFC boss Dana White has said.
- Nurmagomedov famously submitted McGregor in a one-sided beatdown at UFC 229 last year.
- However, "a lot of people" want to see it again, White said.
- Post-fight riots marred the UFC 229 event and both fighters are not able to negotiate a return to the octagon until they learn at a January 29 hearing whether or not they will be punished for their alleged involvement.
- Once the disciplinary hearing is out of the way, a 2019 rematch "should happen."
Conor McGregor was mercilessly dominated by Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 last year but "should" be granted a rematch in 2019, according to the UFC boss Dana White.
In a one-sided brawl in October, Nurmagomedov famously dropped McGregor with a thudding right hand in the second round, before forcing the Irishman to tap to a tight neck guard in the fourth.
Victory ensured Nurmagomedov kept his UFC lightweight championship belt, but rather than celebrate the biggest win of his career, the Russian wrestler jumped over the cage and charged at McGregor's cageside friend Dillon Danis.
While that was going on, members of Nurmagomedov's team invaded the cage itself and fought with McGregor.
The post-fight riots marred what had been a dramatic and entertaining event, and both fighters are currently in a limbo period as they await a disciplinary hearing conducted by the Nevada State Athletic Commission on January 29.
Should suspensions be light, then White cannot foresee why a second fight can not be negotiated this year.
"I think a lot of people want to see that fight," White told TMZ Sports this week. "We still haven't gone in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. That's gotta happen and when it does we can figure out how this whole thing plays out."
But should the fighters be granted permission to return to Las Vegas to fight this year, there are other opponents White has in mind. "Is Max [Holloway] moving to 155lbs? Tony Ferguson's obviously in the mix… we gotta see how this thing plays out."
As far as whether White sees the rematch happening in 2019, he commented: "Yeah, I do," before elaborating that both guys will "have to win" if McGregor takes on Holloway and Nurmagomedov fights Ferguson beforehand.
However, if the disciplinary situation is resolved and "everything goes right" then the "fight should happen" this year, White said.