Morning Report: Floyd Mayweather only willing to box Khabib Nurmagomedov: ‘I’m the A side. My way, my rules’

Friday, November 16, 2018 - 16:00


For those who want to see Khabib Nurmagomedov follow in Conor McGregor’s footsteps by boxing Floyd Mayweather, the dream is still alive.

Last month, following his domination of Conor McGregor at UFC 229, Khabib Nurmagomedov was sitting ringside at a boxing match with Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather promotions, and the two took the opportunity to float an idea out into the world: pitting Khabib’s 27-0 record against Mayweather’s 50-0 record. The idea immediately gained steam, especially with Mayweather who, though retired, made it clear he would come back if the price was right. With Khabib’s team looking for a $50 million fight, and Mayweather being the only opponent who could ostensibly get them that kind of payday, things looked to be trending in the right direction for another crossover superfight.

Then, Mayweather threw a curveball, announcing that he would be ending his retirement with a yet-to-be-determined ruleset at Rizin 14 against Tenshin Nasukawa. It looked like the death knell for Mayweather-Khabib but that was short-lived as Mayweather quickly recanted and ultimately has said he and Tenshin will compete in a three round boxing exhibition instead of an actual fight. That exhibition bout could just be a prelude a true comeback though, and Mayweather still seems interested in Nurmagomedov, under the right circumstances.

Speaking with TMZ Sports on Thursday, Mayweather said that he would be happy to actually end his retirement with a real fight against Nurmagomedov, so long as Khabib came over to boxing to do it.

“They came to me talking about the Khabib fight,” Mayweather said. “Khabib called me out, I didn’t call Khabib out. They said it has to happen in the octagon and I said, ‘You just tell me where Khabib has made nine figures before in the octagon. If he hasn’t made nine figures, he’s not the A side. I’m the A side, so if you guys want the fight to happen, you must come my way. My way, my rules.”

Nurmagomedov has previously stated that he would be happy to box Mayweather so that doesn’t seem like a deal breaker. A bigger issue is that UFC President Dana White doesn’t seem too interested in the fight. Of course, White previously said many of the same things about Mayweather vs. McGregor and eventually MayMac did happen, so it doesn’t rule out the possibility of MayKhab. But Mayweather is adamant that he doesn’t need to fight so for it to happen, there is no consideration of anything other than boxing.

“Has to [be boxing],” Mayweather concluded. “My way, my rules. I’m Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather. Even if it don’t happen, I’m comfortable. I’ve got a great life. Houses all over L.A. I’m retired and I’m still living a great life.”

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

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TODAY IN MMA HISTORY

2007: Alistair Overeem won the Strikeforce heavyweight title by submitting Paul Buentello with knees to the body at Strikeforce: Four Men Enter, One Man Survives. As to the event’s name, Jorge Santiago kept the night of knees going, winning the middleweight tournament that night by knocking out Sean Salmon with a flying knee and then stopping Trevor Prangley with a knee to the body.

2013: Georges St-Pierre competed as a welterweight for the final time, defending his title with a controversial split decision over Johnny Hendricks at UFC 167.

FINAL THOUGHTS

A lot happened yesterday, not the least of which is a rumor that Nick Diaz is going to fight Jorge Masvidal. So keep your eyes out for confirmation on that enticing prospect.

It’s a big fight weekend, at least from a volume standpoint. Tonight (actually yesterday, but Bellator is still living in 1987) Bellator returns to Tel Aviv with a, well I won’t call it a great card but it has a good headlining fight and some solid names on the main card. Also, Invicta will crown a new featherweight champion and that event won’t be tape delayed! Then of course there’s UFC Buenos Aires which is also uninspiring but hey, fighting is fighting and we’ve got plenty to check out this weekend.

Anyway, thanks for reading and see y’all on Monday.

EXIT POLL

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Source: 
https://www.mmafighting.com/2018/11/16/18097614/morning-report-floyd-mayweather-only-willing-box-khabib-nurmagomedov-im-the-a-side-my-way-my-rules