- Khabib Nurmagomedov says Irishman has to 'cut weight and win 10 fights in a row' if he wants another title shot
- 'To think he deserves the lightweight belt, while I'm champion, that won't happen, don't worry'
UFC president Dana White has said Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov will meet again if they win their respective fights. But the UFC lightweight champion has seemingly shut down any chance of an immediate rematch.
Khabib will defend his title against Tony Ferguson on April 18 in New York, while former two-weight champion McGregor has a tune-up bout with Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone on January 18 at UFC 246.
The Russian was not happy with White's assertion that the Irishman could be next in line to face him, though.
"I think Cerrone lost seven or eight of his last 10 fights (actually six). The other one (McGregor) is going into his fourth year of no victories," Khabib said at a Gorilla Fighting Championship media event in Krasnodar, Russia, translated by RT Sport.
"It's like the minor leagues " it doesn't really matter who wins there.
"I'm surprised that Dana White is saying that if Conor beats Cerrone and I beat Tony Ferguson, there will be a rematch," he added.
UFC: Khabib on Ferguson " 'I don't understand his mind'
Khabib decisively beat McGregor by fourth-round submission in their infamous October 2018 fight, which descended into a brawl between their teams outside the cage.
"I decide who I'm going to fight next. To fight me he has to cut weight first, down to (lightweight), and win 10 fights in a row like I did. Then we'll think about a rematch," Khabib said.
"But for now, he can fight second-rate fighters who lose seven out of 10 fights at (welterweight). But to think he deserves the lightweight belt, while I'm champion that won't happen, so everything's all right. Don't worry."
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