Floyd Mayweather Jr. should face Khabib Nurmagomedov in ‘real’ UFC fight, says Dana White

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 20:  Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov faces-off with Conor McGregor during the UFC 229 Press Conference at Radio City Music Hall on September 20, 2018 in New York City.  (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
Simon Head: McGregor-Khabib rematch likely
02:59 - Source: CNN

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Nurmagomedov called out Mayweather Jr.

The American teased possibility of mega fight

CNN  — 

UFC president Dana White has fueled speculation of fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Khabib Nurmagomedov, but wants it to happen in the octagon.

The Russian, who recently beat Conor McGregor on his long-awaited return to mixed martial arts, triggered rumors of a mega-fight with Mayweather after calling out the former boxer.

The 41-year-old Mayweather, who came out of retirement for in 2017 to beat UFC’s McGregor in a money-spinning bout, has also teased the possibility of fighting for Nurmagomedov.

The boxing great has fought 50 professional fights without defeat; the younger Russian has a 27-0 record.

But White is not keen for another of his star fighters to make the switch to boxing again.

“If Mayweather wants to fight, come fight in the UFC,” White said to TMZ.

“We’re not boxing again. We did that once, it’s over. You wanna fight? You come fight, a real fight.”

UFC president Dana White is not keen for another of his fighters to make the switch to boxing.

READ: UFC’s Khabib Nurmagomedov targets Mayweather bout

READ: Dana White suggests UFC ‘never going to change’ after trash talk fuels ugly brawl

Lingering suspension

Nurmagomedov is currently suspended from fighting in the UFC after the ugly scenes that followed his fight with “Notorious” last month.

After forcing the Irishman to tap out, Nurmagomedov and his team launched an assault on McGregor and his team.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission, which governs the sport, unanimously ruled to uphold the fighters’ suspensions last week until the end of its investigation.

Khabib Nurmagomedov is suspended from the UFC after the ugly scenes that followed last fight.

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Despite the suspension, White has already suggested the Russian should face American lightweight Tony Ferguson before thinking of a fight with Mayweather.

“Tony Ferguson is the right fight,” he said. “It’s the fight to make. It obviously depends on the suspension and what happens, we’ll see.”