Khabib on Saudi $100m offer: Spend it on charity instead

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has reportedly been offered $100 million dollars to fight Conor McGregor in Saudi Arabia.

The champ isn’t interested.

Ali Abdelaziz – Nurmagomedov’s manager – said that he has been in touch with contacts within Saudi Arabia who are willing to pay this handsome sum to the undefeated Russian.

“I know some people in Saudi Arabia; they met with me, [and] they want to pay $100 million to Khabib to fight Conor in Saudi Arabia,” said Abdelaziz.

The Arab kingdom has been very active in trying to host high-profile sporting events. Anthony Joshua vs. Andy Ruiz 2 was held in Diriyah just last December, a decision which came under criticism from some due to the monarchy’s ongoing war in Yemen (considered one of the worst humanitarian crises of today).

Nurmagomedov scoffed at the historic offer: “I have a fight on April 18. I have a very serious fight. For the past month and a half, I’ve been consistently training day and night,” adding, “I am focused on Tony Ferguson.”

“I’m surprised that people even question me about a rematch … Everyone saw what happened in the Octagon,” Nurmagomedov said, referring to his dominant performance against McGregor at UFC 229.

“I do not think this offer makes any sense,” the Dagestan native said, apparently addressing Saudi authorities, calling on them “to give this massive amount of money to the needy people or spend it on charity initiatives.”