Now that Khabib Nurmagomedov is the new lightweight champion, an official target is on his back.
One of those targets, former lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez.
Alvarez took to Instagram Live where he responded to the new lightweight champion, saying he is the guy to hand Nurmagomedov his first loss.
“I am Khabib’s Kryptonite,” said Alvarez. “You all know it. It’s the elephant in the room. I’m the guy in the lightweight division, the only guy, that can beat Khabib. Everyone knows it. He can run to Georges [St-Pierre] or run to Conor [McGregor] or run to whoever, I’m the guy. I’m the guy to put that ‘1’ in that loss column.”
Last week when Tony Ferguson was forced to pull out of his planned fight with Nurmagomedov at UFC 223, Alvarez was briefly approached about stepping in to replace him but “The Underground King” was too heavy to make the 155-pound weight limit with only 6 days’ notice.
“I will be gunning for the lightweight championship belt,” said Alvarez. “Khabib’s gonna take some time off, I believe, for prayer and reflection. I don’t know where that leaves me but I’m gonna sit down with the UFC and let them know, I’m the guy to dethrone this man, I’m the guy to give him his loss. I beat champions, that’s what I thrive on. I love belts. I love collecting them. I love beating champions.”
“Khabib is king - temporarily,” said Alvarez. “Everything is temporary. . . Let ‘The Underground King’ do it one more time and get that belt back.”