The more things go on, the less likely it appears that Tony Ferguson will get the next crack at Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Though Ferguson is, ostensibly, the No. 1 contender for Nurmagomedov’s lightweight belt, since submitting Conor McGregor at UFC 229, rumors have run amok that Nurmagomedov is chasing a superfight for his next bout, either with Georges St-Pierre or a boxing crossover with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Now Khabib’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, has confirmed that they are looking for the biggest money fight possible for Khabib’s next fight.

“Ben Askren, Woodley, none of these guys can touch Khabib,” Abdelaziz told TMZ Sports recently. “Especially if they’re scared to get tired and these guys, they get tired. Now, I’m not even worried about Tyron or Ben Askren, I’m worrying about somebody bringing $50M to $100M to the table and none of these guys can bring $200,000 to the table.”

For his headlining role at UFC 229, McGregor made $3M in base pay but was rumored to have pulled in upwards of $50M after receiving a percentage of the pay-per-view sales. Nurmagomedov had a base salary of $2M and will have also received a cut of the PPV, though likely considerably less than McGregor. That was before Khabib throttled McGregor. Now that “The Eagle” has been victorious and become an international star, Abdelaziz says he deserves to be making the same kind of money, even if that means they have to rematch McGregor next.

“Listen, the guy we just fought said he made $50M,” Abdelaziz said. “I think, as a global superstar, Khabib bypass him. You have a guy meeting with Putin and Erdoğan and the other guy selling liquor on the corner store. It’s not even in the f**king same planet. Good for him. Whatever. It’s none of our business, he do what he does. We try to go to Africa, we try to do different things. It’s not even close.

“At the end of the day, maybe a whole bunch of money gets on the table, maybe the rematch. I don’t know. Maybe we’ll give a rematch to the guy we just killed. . . Whatever’s gonna bring Khabib money. This is now my job. It’s not Khabib’s job. Khabib created legacy, 11 years, 27 fights. Right now, money talks, bulls**t walks. That’s it.”

The win at UFC 229 - and the brawl that ensued when Nurmagomedov jumped the fence and attacked McGregor’s team in the crowd - certainly did raise Nurmagomedov’s profile. Already a hero in his home country, Nurmagomedov has been doing a victory lap this month, meeting with a number of foreign dignitaries and world leaders. Next, Abdelaziz says Nurmagomedov will head to Africa for a charitable works project building wells and schools in impoverished areas. But when he does return to fighting, having secured his legacy, the goal will be to maximize his income, “number one contender” be damned.

“We’re gonna give $1M to get wells and help with schools,” concluded Abdelaziz. “He’s gonna go to Africa probably end of this year, beginning of next year, and this is the most important thing. Khabib wants to touch lives.

“Khabib can retire now. He’s rich. . . But if somebody’s gonna put big paycheck on the table and we can get it done, I don’t care about number one contender, number ten contender. Khabib was number one contender for five years! Conor jumped him, Eddie jumped him, a lot of people jumped him. Right now, it’s about the paycheck.”

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VIDEO STEW

The A-Side Live Chat!

Embedded 2.

KSW is the best MMA org.

DC to Brock.

Dana steadfastly refusing to let Khabib box.

The rematch we all want.

Chuck and Tito on a morning show.

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LISTEN UP

Eurobash. Interviews with Gunnar Nelson and Joe McColgan.

Fights Gone By. Jack Slack breaks down UFC 230.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Askren still going.

Liddell and Ortiz getting a 30 for 30 doc.

Do it, Paul.

Mad.

That’s a lot of abs in one picture.

UFC 232 poster.

Hot balls.

Abdulmanap smiles?!

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Klidson Abreu (13-2) vs. Anton Vyazigin (11-2, 1 NC);M-1 Challenge 99, Nov. 17.

Joe Schilling (2-5) vs. Jose Leija (5-2); Bellator 210, Nov. 30.

Bruna Ellen (4-1) vs. Kristina Williams (2-1); Bellator 210, Nov. 30.

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TODAY IN MMA HISTORY

2004: Wanderlei Silva kneed Quinton Jackson through the ropes at Pride 28.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Happy Halloween! Sound off in the comments section with your best MMA Halloween costume.

Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow!

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EXIT POLL

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