Conor McGregor needs to beat another lightweight contender to make rematch for Khabib’s title ‘legitimate’, says Hardy
CONOR McGREGOR needs to squeeze in a win against a credible lightweight contender to make a rematch for Khabib Nurmagomedov’s title “legitimate”, according to fighter pundit Dan Hardy.
The Irishman was submitted in a grudge match against rival Nurmagomedov in October 2018 but the bad blood spilled into a post-fight brawl fuelling talk of a rematch ever since.
And after McGregor, 31, returned at welterweight to beat Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds on his octagon return, UFC president Dana White agreed it was enough for a second crack at champion Khabib.
But former title challenger turned respected pundit Dan Hardy is of the opinion McGregor - who has not won at lightweight since winning the belt in late 2016 - must legitimise his run back to the title by first beating another challenger.
Hardy told SunSport: “I don’t necessarily think the Khabib rematch is the right route to go if he wants to win the belt back and be considered the legitimate champion.
“I think there’s at least one more fight for him that needs to happen. Who that’s against, I’m not sure. You’ve got the likes of Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirer floating around that would be good tests for him.
“Another win against a top ranked opponent before he gets the shot would make his title campaign more legitimate.
“That’s the only thing to consider really; is it worth him taking a fight against another contender to make sure his title shot is considered to be right and legitimate in the division?
“Or does he try and just grab the title off Khabib and then try and stay at the top for as long as he can?
“The thing is Conor McGregor kind of broke the mould with the things he gets away with that other fighters don’t.
“But what I’d like to see is him fighting another one of the contenders and then should he win, fight for the belt.”
McGregor was in talks to face No4 ranked lightweight contender Gaethje in July until the coronavirus pandemic KO’d those plans.
But the Irishman is desperate to gain revenge against unbeaten Russian Nurmagomedov as soon as possible, even calling for the rematch to take place in Moscow.
McGregor insists he did not train properly for the initial fight in Las Vegas, where he was dropped in round two before tapping out in the fourth.
Despite the dominant victory for Nurmagomedov, Hardy believes the Dagestani grappler tires in the championship rounds and an improved Notorious cannot be ruled out in the rematch - as long as he respects his rivals striking ability.
Hardy said: “If I was Conor coming off the loss and looking at those rounds, there are still positives you can draw from that.
“By the third round he stuffed a couple of takedowns but what he needs to do is not underestimate the striking of Khabib because that really stood out in the first fight.
“Khabib tagged him really cleanly and that’s because Conor left himself vulnerable. You can look back at that fight and see a lot of positives.
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“Khabib did start to look a little bit tired by the third round, and I get criticised a little bit for saying this, but it’s something consistent when Khabib gets into the championship rounds I feel like he slows down a little bit.
“There’s a foundation that can be built for Conor McGregor and Khabib will look at the fight and think he can just do exactly the same thing again, whereas Conor can look at ways to improve.
“It’s always going to take something special to bear Khabib, but I think the next fight will be more competitive, I really do.”
- BT Sport will celebrate the anniversary of Conor McGregor’s UFC debut on Monday 6th April. Watch McGregor’s greatest fights back to back on BT Sport 3 from 9pm on McGregor Monday.
