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Following UFC 229, The Ultimate Fighting Championship was left in turmoil with confusion surrounding their UFC Lightweight Championship.
Both Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor were suspended indefinitely following their involvement in the post-fight brawl which broke out. With both fighters facing a hearing from the Nevada Athletic Commission this January to decide their fate, it appears they will not be entering the Octagon for a while.
However, that has not stopped either of them from being challenged to multiple fights. Khabib, in particular, has had more than his fair share of challengers.
When he does return, whoever he fights for the UFC Lightweight Championship will have to have earned the shot. With that in mind, there are quite a few people who might be vying for that shot, and one fighter who might even be willing to fight him in a non-title fight.
With that in mind, let's take a look at four separate opponents for Khabib Nurmagomedov when he returns from suspension.
#1 Tony Ferguson
Tony Ferguson is one of the best fighters in the world at the moment, and has quite the streak to show for it. There have been multiple times in the past when Ferguson came close to facing Numragomedov, but for one reason or the other, the actual fight could never take place.
After defeating Anthony Pettis at UFC 229, however, there is no question whatsoever that if there is one person who deserves a shot at Nurmagomedov's title, it is the number one contender, Tony Ferguson.
Following so many convincing performances, it is high time that Ferguson and Nurmagomedov finally do battle.
#2 Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor may have lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229, but he is not one to take a defeat lying down.
While other fighters might treat it as something to put behind them and move on, McGregor is not your average fighter. Nate Diaz would testify to the fact that when McGregor loses one fight, he comes back better prepared to take on the challenge. And, usually, on the second go, it does not end favourably for his opponent.
Khabib was able to dominate him thoroughly when the two met in the main event of UFC 229. McGregor is far from done with him though and will want to set the records straight by being the one to end his undefeated streak.
This would be a rematch everyone would be dying to watch!
#3 Georges St-Pierre
Georges St-Pierre is one of the best fighters of all time. His run in the UFC is possibly unparalleled. There is not a single fighter who is better in the Octagon than GSP on his day, which makes him the ideal rival for the undefeated Lightweight Champion.
GSP himself has admitted that he was previously not interested in fighting Nurmagomedov as there was hardly anything which he could have gained from the fight.
However, since then, Nurmagomedov had his fight with McGregor and was able to defeat the Irish fighter. This gained him quite a bit of notoriety and further added to his reputation.
A fight against GSP would be perfect for Nurmagomedov as it would help cement his legacy as one of the greatest to have ever entered the Octagon.
#4 Floyd 'Money' Mayweather
Floyd 'Money' Mayweather has expressed quite a bit of interest in squaring off against Khabib Nurmagomedov. The undefeated boxer is keen on fighting the UFC Lightweight Champion, and has revealed his interest to the media.
The two fighters have even discussed terms of their fight, though Dana White appears determined to make sure that if the fight happens it should happen inside a UFC Octagon.
Nurmagomedov, on the other hand, has even talked about leaving the UFC to get the fight against Mayweather if that is what is necessary. It is unlikely that Mayweather will agree to an MMA fight, as the Boxer prefers to stick to his strengths. He defeated Conor McGregor a year back, as well as Tenshin Nasukawa a few days ago.
With that in mind, a fight between Nurmagomedov and Mayweather would likely spike interest among the fans.
Given the hype this would generate among the fans as well as the fighters, this one could actually happen.
