Khabib Nurmagomedov (25-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) dominated Edson Barboza (19-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) in the co-main event of this past weekend’s UFC 219 event to state his case as the man to challenge lightweight champion Conor McGregor (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC). Or interim champion Tony Ferguson (24-3 MMA, 14-1 UFC), since Nurmagomedov doesn’t seem to care which one he faces next and is willing to fight them both on the same night if the UFC would allow it. As you might expect, Nurmagomedov has leapfrogged both Eddie Alvarez and Justin Gaethje and now sits at No. 3 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings. However, Nurmagomedov, who fought for the first time in 13 months, wasn’t able to crack the pound-for-pound rankings just yet, which might come as a surprise. And maybe – just maybe – that means it’s Ferguson who deserves his shot at McGregor before Nurmagomedov, assuming “The Notorious” cares to return at some point.
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USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA rankings, Jan. 2: Khabib in the pound-for-pound mix? – MMA Junkie