UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov seems to be taking a page out of Conor McGregor's book, issuing a challenge to undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather.
In a video posted to Instagram over the weekend, Nurmagomedov appeared next to Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe and called out the boxing great.
"Let's go, Floyd, we have to fight now. 50-0 vs. 27-0, two guys who never lose. Let's go, why not? Because in the jungle, there's only one king. Of course, I'm the king because he cannot drop McGregor, but I drop him easily. Let's go."
Nurmagomedov was obviously referencing his victory at UFC 229 last month in which he submitted McGregor in the fourth round. Mayweather had also beat McGregor when the two met in the boxing ring back in August 2017; Mayweather earned a 10th-round TKO victory but didn't technically knock McGregor to the mat.
The McGregor-Mayweather fight was the second-biggest pay-per-view event in history, generating 4.3 million buys. Mayweather had a $100 million guaranteed purse, while McGregor was guaranteed $30 million. Mayweather responded to Nurmagomedov's challenge on social media and it appears he's up for the fight - if the price is right.
It's hard to say if a fight between Nurmagomedov and Mayweather - both undefeated in their respective sport - would have the same appeal as the McGregor-Mayweather fight, but clearly, Nurmagomedov is trying to capitalize on his newfound fame. He's also probably feeling a little slighted by the UFC and Nevada Athletic Commission who have withheld his pay from his UFC 229 fight following the post-fight incident.
Following his victory over McGregor, Nurmagomedov jumped over and into the crowd to confront McGregor's jiu-jitsu coach Dillion Danis. His actions sparked a brawl both inside and outside of the Octagon. Although both fighters were temporarily suspended by the NAC for the incident pending an investigation, McGregor was awarded his prize purse. The Dagestan native has also expressed resentment over the way the UFC and NAC have treated his post-fight actions versus McGregor's behavior prior to the fight.
Nurmagomedov reportedly turned down a $15 million offer for a rematch against Conor McGregor and he
even threatened to leave the UFC entirely if the promotion fires his teammate and featherweight fighter Zubaira Tukhugov.
Would you want to see Khabib Nurmagomedov fight Floyd Mayweather?