Last week, the UFC announced that interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson will fight Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 223. At the moment, the fight will be contested with Ferguson’s interim title on the line, but UFC President Dana White has made it known the if actual lightweight champion Conor McGregor doesn’t return to the UFC soon, the organization will strip him of the belt and allow him first crack at the title whenever he chooses to return. But that might not be so easy.
Speaking at the MetroPCS UFC 220 Livestream over the weekend, Nurmagomedov said that after he beats Ferguson, McGregor will not be a top priority for him and that the current lightweight champion will have to “get in line” to earn a shot at the title.