If UFC 257 truly was about someone from the lightweight pack producing an outstanding performance to impress the still-incumbent UFC lightweight champion, we’d be talking about a Khabib Nurmagomedov comeback right now. But now, after it seems clear he was only really seriously considering a rematch with Conor McGregor, it’s time to move on and begin the post-Khabib era. Ahead of the event, the stakes were raised when Nurmagomedov and White had their meeting at a UAE Warriors event, where much was made of the pair sitting down to thrash out the conditions that, it was hoped, would coax the 29-0 champ out of retirement and back into the octagon. After that meeting, White told the world that the gauntlet had been thrown down to the four lightweights at the top of UFC 257, saying that Khabib told him, “If these guys do something spectacular – show me something spectacular, and make me want to come back and fight.” The UFC boss then declared, “I have the feeling if somebody delivers, it could be on the co-main event or the main event – and he thought Oliveira looked good (vs.
See the rest here:
It’s time for the UFC to begin the post-Khabib era at lightweight | Opinion – MMA Junkie