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#2 - Charles Oliveira
Charles Oliveira is another MMA veteran who also happens to be an excellent grappler and striker with a strong cardio routine. 'Do Bronx', a jiu-jitsu black belt, defeated Michael Chandler at UFC 262 to become the reigning UFC lightweight champion. He will be a special opponent for Khabib Nurmagomedov, considering the Brazilian is the first to get his hands on the very title 'The Eagle' vacated.
Currently on a nine-fight winning streak, Charles Oliveira has acquired a lot of fame and respect in the UFC. He has defeated MMA veterans of all styles in the recent past to prove his dominance, including Tony Ferguson.
If Khabib Nurmagomedov makes a comeback in the UFC, what better opponent to face him than the new lightweight king? It would be a treat to see the war unfurl between the two in the grappling department with a few episodes of striking.
#1 - Conor McGregor
One would think that following the madness that took place at UFC 229, things would finally settle between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor. McGregor offering prayers to Khabib after the death of his father, Abdulmanap, seemed like a moment of truce between the two rivals.
However, 'Notorious' has long returned to his wicked ways of insulting Khabib Nurmagomedov, even after the Dagestani wrestler's retirement. Despite getting 'smashed' at UFC 229, Conor McGregor has not yielded weapons in his war against Khabib Nurmagomedov. Dedicating a post to his much-celebrated rival, Conor wrote:
"Happy retirement kid, smell ya later. Never forget who came in the game and made ye. Straight from my big Irish balls. Remember folks, if you hate cutting weight so much, all you have to do is move up a division. God bless.."
Khabib Nurmagomedov reignited his rivalry with Conor McGregor after the Irishman got TKO'd by Dustin Poirier at UFC 257. 'The Eagle' blamed Conor for not staying loyal to his coaching team and paying the ultimate price for it. 'Notorious' obviously found the comments in bad taste and said:
"That's the character of the man for sure, behind the mask. What's he (Khabib) want to do? Does he want to come back or no? Cause he's not throwing no leg kicks."
If and when Khabib Nurmagomedov makes a comeback in the UFC, a rematch against old foe Conor McGregor would be the first thing Dana White would probably look to do. Especially considering it could be even bigger than their first encounter, which remains the UFC's highest-selling PPV event to date.
