Why did the UFC turn down Khabib?

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doozer

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I know this thread is a day late... but when RDA got injured Khabib offered to fight when Connor had no one and was turned down. Diaz must have felt he didn't have enough time to make weight so it is being fought at WW. Khabib has been training and could have made the lightweight cut (which is an advantage to Connor for who this is an easy weight cut). Khabib is also far more qualified.
I'm thinking Khabib is a terrible match up for Connor and the UFC doesn't want to see that (and I'm not blaming Connor for that, I respect his willingness to step up short notice against anyone)... thoughts?
 
not a big enough name for a short notice replacement, plus he already has a fight lined up that people think is a good matchup
 
If Khabib had gotten the fight he would have high-fived his manager and broken his own arm.
 
2 years is 2 long.
 
doozer said:
I know this thread is a day late... but when RDA got injured Khabib offered to fight when Connor had no one and was turned down. Diaz must have felt he didn't have enough time to make weight so it is being fought at WW. Khabib has been training and could have made the lightweight cut (which is an advantage to Connor for who this is an easy weight cut). Khabib is also far more qualified.
I'm thinking Khabib is a terrible match up for Connor and the UFC doesn't want to see that (and I'm not blaming Connor for that, I respect his willingness to step up short notice against anyone)... thoughts?
Click to expand...

It's been answered a hundred times, if you're a Conor hater you might as well look away because you're not going to accept the answer but:

1) Khabib has been out injured for the last two years.
2) If they chose Khabib, there is no guarantee that he would make the walk on March 5th. It's high, high risk.
3) Ferguson wanted to fight him in March, but Khabib asked for the fight to be in April (presumably to give him more time to heal up).
4) It also makes sense for Khabib to get a fight or two under his belt since his layoff, because if Conor does beat RDA at UFC 200, Khabib is THE man to challenge him for the LW title. [Doog Doogson]
5) It's more commercially sensible to have a guy like Nate step in, considering there's only 10 days to market the fight [Doog Doogson]
6) UFC have a contract with fox and khabib is booked for it [The Beast within]
 
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doozer said:
I know this thread is a day late... but when RDA got injured Khabib offered to fight when Connor had no one and was turned down. Diaz must have felt he didn't have enough time to make weight so it is being fought at WW. Khabib has been training and could have made the lightweight cut (which is an advantage to Connor for who this is an easy weight cut). Khabib is also far more qualified.
I'm thinking Khabib is a terrible match up for Connor and the UFC doesn't want to see that (and I'm not blaming Connor for that, I respect his willingness to step up short notice against anyone)... thoughts?
Click to expand...
because they have a contract with fox and khabib is booked for 197
 
Simple, khabib in is the greatest threat to mcgregor and rda, I would argue, a healthy khabib is lightweight champ
 
He's been out 2 years. And he's not a big enough name at the minute.
 
Is this a rhetorical question or are you really wondering? If the latter:

1) Khabib hasn't fought for two years
2) Khabib has a fight
3) Not a fan favorite

And meanwhile Diaz

1) Just fought recently and looked good doing it
2) Didn't have a fight booked, so nothing needs to be cancelled or rearranged in order to have him fight
3) Is a fan favorite
 
Z28LS1L98 said:
Simple, khabib in is the greatest threat to mcgregor and rda, I would argue, a healthy khabib is lightweight champ
Click to expand...

Bullshit. Magreggor would ko Khibib pretty easy. Khibib doesn't have the greatest takedowns like some of you seem to think. He needs to close the distance in order to get it and he wont do rhat against connor without getting hit, which he will.
 
Rex Kwon Do said:
Is this a rhetorical question or are you really wondering? If the latter:

1) Khabib hasn't fought for two years
2) Khabib has a fight
3) Not a fan favorite

And meanwhile Diaz

1) Just fought recently and looked good doing it
2) Didn't have a fight booked, so nothing needs to be cancelled or rearranged in order to have him fight
3) Is a fan favorite
Click to expand...
That about sums it up. Also, looks like Trump is crushing the other establishment candidates.
 
Naos said:
It's been answered a hundred times, if you're a Conor hater you might as well look away because you're not going to accept the answer but:

1) Khabib has been out injured for the last two years.
2) If they chose Khabib, there is no guarantee that he would make the walk on March 5th. It's high, high risk.
3) Ferguson wanted to fight him in March, but Khabib asked for the fight to be in April (presumably to give him more time to heal up).
Click to expand...

^^This

And

4) It also makes sense for Khabib to get a fight or two under his belt since his layoff, because if Conor does beat RDA at UFC 200, Khabib is THE man to challenge him for the LW title.
5) It's more commercially sensible to have a guy like Nate step in, considering there's only 10 days to market the fight
 
he's a gigantic grappler? Chad at 5'5'.5", 145 lb division was able to work takedowns on Conor. it's still in UFC's interested to give Conor a chance. RDA is dangerous but the reward matches the risk--against Khabib, the risk outweights the reward.
 
dana would never let that monster (and relative unknown to the general public) khabib maul and beat the tar out of their cash cow conor. not smart business.
 
Optimus15 said:
Bullshit. Magreggor would ko Khibib pretty easy. Khibib doesn't have the greatest takedowns like some of you seem to think. He needs to close the distance in order to get it and he wont do rhat against connor without getting hit, which he will.
Click to expand...
Perhaps no one knows, but I would bet top dollar on khabib
 
Khabib was scheduled for the 5th, pulled out via injury then wanted in on the 5th after he's already taking up a primetime spot on FOX. That's why
 
If it wasn't Diaz it would have been Cowboy. Khabib wasn't in the running IMO. He already told Ferguson he couldn't make a March date, he can't then turn round and take a money fight in early March.
 
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