Just as there is no shortage of friction in the upper tier of the lightweight division, injuries are also prevalent at the elite level of the 155-pound fold. Khabib Nurmagomedov and Anthony Pettis have exchanged barbs in interviews and across social media platforms over the past year, with trigger points for both being focused on the other fighter's inability to remain healthy.
The undefeated Dagestan-born lightweight was forced to withdraw from his scheduled bout with Donald Cerrone at UFC 187 on May 23 due to suffering a knee injury, to which "Showtime" decided to pour the proverbial salt on the wound by suggesting karma was paying the young Russian back for his earlier slights in Pettis' direction.