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UFC president Dana White thinks Conor McGregor will scrap plan for busy 2020 and wait for Khabib Nurmagomedov rematch

Khabib Nurmagomedov has Tony Ferguson in his sights - finally - but Conor McGregor still has the Russian in his.

The Eagle defends his UFC lightweight title against Ferguson on April 18 at UFC 249 and Dana White says McGregor, fresh off his decimation of Donald Cerrone in January, wants to face Khabib if he comes through the fight.

 Khabib Nurmagomedov has Tony Ferguson in his sights, not Conor McGregor
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Khabib Nurmagomedov has Tony Ferguson in his sights, not Conor McGregorCredit: Getty Images - Getty

The undefeated Russian dominated McGregor at UFC 229 where bad blood seemed to prevail over everything else, but McGregor has shown a renewed focus in recent months and looked better than ever in the 40 seconds Cerrone lasted against him.

Granted, Cerrone isn't Nurmagomedov, but he is still a UFC legend.

UFC president Dana White was asked about McGregor's next fight and the potential to tie up the trilogy with Nate Diaz, but White believes McGregor will sit and wait for Khabib.

"I don't know [about a third fight with Diaz being next]," White told . "He's focused on Khabib. He wants the Khabib fight."

 McGregor was forced to tap out to Khabib during their lightweight title fight
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McGregor was forced to tap out to Khabib during their lightweight title fightCredit: Getty Images - Getty

So does White think McGregor will bide his time? "I do. But you never know with him. We'll see. But I have no answers for you right now about him. I mean he really just fought, do you know what I mean? And he's not watching Khabib and Tony to see what happens."

McGregor has stated a fair few times that he wants to stay busy in 2020 with three of four fights, but after White suggested he'd get the winner of Khabib and Ferguson following his sensational win at UFC 246, those plans appear to have changed.

But one man it hasn't changed for is Nurmagomedov. He sees no reason why he would give the Irishman a rematch.

"I'm surprised that people even question me about a rematch," he said recently.

 McGregor believes he can make the adjustments to beat Khabib
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McGregor believes he can make the adjustments to beat KhabibCredit: Getty Images - Getty

"Everyone saw what happened in the octagon [versus McGregor]. I controlled the fight every step of the way.

"I did everything I wanted to him, he even gave up. How can we even discuss a rematch? We are only talking about continuing the festivities and making money."

At the end of the day, Khabib and McGregor is the highest grossing fight in UFC history and a rematch would do even better business. The pressure will come from the UFC to make the bout happen.

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