Khabib Nurmagomedov WILL fight Floyd Mayweather despite UFC chief Dana White opposition, Russian’s manager says

KHABIB'S manager Ali Abdelaziz says that his team are open to the idea of a fight against Floyd Mayweather - despite it being strongly rejected by UFC Dana White.

Mayweather Jr. has repeatedly expressed his desire to come out of retirement to fight the UFC lightweight champion in 2019.

Most recently the 41-year-old said: "Oh, we fighting. I'm my own boss."

But Dana White has dismissed the claims and asked fans not to listen to the boxing superstar.

: "Don't pay attention to it.

"First of all, the Mayweather team has not approached us at all. Khabib is under contract with the UFC. Floyd is very good about getting his name out there when he wants to.”

However in another turn of events, Khabib's manager Ali Abdelaziz has said if Floyd wants a boxing match they are open to the idea.

"I'm talking to everybody right now," Abdelaziz.

"At the end of the day, Khabib is a UFC fighter. He has a contract with the UFC and we respect the contract - but we're open, if Floyd wants to box Khabib.

"You have a guy who is 50-0, a guy who is 27-0. Both have never tasted defeat. Khabib brings 2.5 billion Muslims around the world, some of the richest countries in the world, and they're behind him.

“Floyd Mayweather is a megastar. Floyd 'Money' Mayweather. If the two forces clash, that's a real fight."

But Mayweather has stated that the fight will only take place in a boxing ring and not in the octagon with MMA rules.

He said: "He called me out. So, he gotta come to my world."

Mayweather has fought at MGM Grand in Las Vegas 13 times, dating back to when he faced Carlos Manuel Baldomir in November 2006.

But Khabib, 30, has confirmed that he will not fight him in LA because "they don't pay him".

Nevada's State Athletics Comission have withheld his fight purse as they investigate a brawl that commenced after he beat Irishman Conor McGregor earlier this month.