KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV’S manager has accused Conor McGregor of dodging a fight with Justin Gaethje.
Ali Abdelaziz, who also represents the likes of Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman, questioned whether McGregor is really motivated.
The Notorious will return to the octagon on January 23 at UFC 257, when he rematches Dustin Poirier.
But Abdelaziz feels it should have been Gaethje, who was defeated by Nurmagomedov, 32, at UFC 254.
The 42-year-old told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto: “I am tired about talking of this guy.
“But you know what, I am assuming the truth. Listen, we all know that he (McGregor) is picking that (Poirier).
“I am not saying Dustin is not good, Dustin’s really good.
“But realistically, if you really wanna put yourself in his position, who’s No1?
“He could have called out Justin, I know he turned down Justin two times. And it’s fine.
“I know he’s the moneymaker, he’s this guy but, realistically, how do you know he’s motivated? How do you know he’s this (the old McGregor)?.”
While McGregor, 32, is pencilled in to make his return from retirement in early 2021, no such u-turn is currently in the works for Khabib.
UFC president Dana White has suggested that he feels Nurmagomedov, who unlike Cejudo following his retirement remains in the rankings and dope testing pool, could return.
But, despite talk of an attempt to get to 30-0, potentially against Georges St-Pierre, Nurmagomedov has insisted that he will remain retired, instead tending to his farm.
He told RT: “You can fight until you’re 40 but there should be a goal.
“I had a goal to reach the summit and I got there. Further, I have no competitive interest.
“Next year I will graduate. I’d like to [build on] my thesis, do a masters course, dedicate more time to studying.
“I’ve bought sheep, I tend to my farm. I’d like to develop in this field a little. I have the bull calves out to feed, I have cows.
“I would like to take part in a place where I can bring a benefit. It doesn’t have to be big politics.
“Right now I can bring a benefit without being a politician, and that’s enough for me.”