Khabib Nurmagomedov has a history of weight mishaps at 155 pounds. But he’s thinking of someday competing at 145.
The undefeated Russian looked trim and healthy in Las Vegas on Thursday, one day before he’s scheduled to step on the scales and weigh-in for his UFC 219 co-main event bout against Edson Barboza.
And while he still has plenty of unfinished business ahead of him in the division, Nurmagomedov found himself thinking of a move to featherweight somewhere down the road.
“I am already on weight,” Nurmagomedov said at UFC 219 media day. “I have a couple pounds [to lose]. We’re thinking about 145 now. We’ll see about this, but, first of all I’m going to fight this fight and beat Edson Barboza, and I’m going to fight with [interim champion] Tony Ferguson, and after I’m thinking about going to 145.”
This is far from a done deal, of course. Nurmagomedov says he’ll see how he feels when he checks in on Friday and go from there.
“I want to watch how I do tomorrow, then I will make weight, and we’ll see how I feel,” he said. “I’m going to watch how I feel and I’m going to make weight.:
As for what fights might catch Nurmagomedov’s eye at 145, that, too, is a bridge he’ll cross when he gets there.
“I don’t think about my opponents, but before I go to 145, first of all I have to stay focused on 155, Edson Barboza. After, we’ll see. I think I have a couple good fights at 145.”
Nurmagomedov, who is 8-0 in the UFC, missed weight by 2 1/2 pounds for a UFC 160 win over Abel Trujilo. His scheduled UFC 209 interim title fight with Ferguson was called off when Nurmagomedov was hospitalized during his weight cut.
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