Nurmagomedov: If I don’t get title shot next, I quit UFC

Fan heaven is #1 contender hell.

The UFC 205 main event with featherweight champion Conor McGregor challenging lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez may end up being the most lucrative fight in MMA history. But interim featherweight champion Jose Aldo who had expected to fight McGregor now wants – adamantly – to leave the UFC.

And Khabib Nurmagomedov, who had expected to fight Alvarez, says if he doesn’t get a title shot after fighting Michael Johnson on the undercard of UFC 205, then he is done with the UFC and will see the league never has a show in Russia. Nurmagomedov, who is 23-0 and the #1 contender, made the remarks on “The Luke Thomas Show.”

“If I don’t fight after this fight for the title, I never fight in UFC,” said Nurmagomedov, as transcribed by Alexander K. Lee for The Score. “No more. Because I deserve this. I am undefeated, I never lose. Eight-and-a-half years, I never lose. And everybody knows that I deserve this fight.”

“First of all, the UFC say, ‘You’re going to fight Aug. 27 in Canada against Eddie,” I say, ‘I take this fight.’ Eddie does not take this fight. After, UFC gives me 205 [vs . Alvarez]. Eddie say, ‘No.’ After, the UFC gives me 206. Eddie say, ‘No.’ And now these guys make this bulls*** fight. Yes, I understand that this is money fight but first of all, this is sport and the champion has to fight the No. 1-ranked. I’m the No. 1 ranked.

“I fight in the lightweight division for almost five years in the UFC. Conor McGregor never fight in the lightweight division. For me, I think this is a very bad situation.”

“After this fight, I have to fight for the title. UFC thinks Conor has power? Ireland has only six million people. I’m from Russia. 150 million people. If the UFC doesn’t give me a title fight after this fight, I’m going to show how I have power in Russia. And I know if I don’t fight for the title next fight after this fight, the UFC will never, ever go to Russia. Never.”

Khabib Nurmagomedov fights Michael Johnson at UFC 205 on November 12, 2016, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. After that, he gets a title shot, or else.