Seven weeks out from UFC 205, a historic show for the promotion - its first at Madison Square Garden - and the card is yet to receive a main event.
It was expected that Conor McGregor would headline the night in a title fight against lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez.
However, in a reply to a fan on Wednesday, UFC President Dana White said it was Khabib Nurmagomedov who Alvarez would fight on November 12th.
not true it's @TeamKhabib
— danawhite (@danawhite) September 21, 2016
On UFC Tonight, Megan Olivi reported that Alvarez was offered the Nurmagomedov fight but missed the contract deadline. He has since been sent a new offer to fight the Dagestani at UFC 206 in December. He has not signed that either.
Alvarez vs Nurmagomedov is a decent fight, but in terms of pay-per-view numbers, it would be nowhere near the optimal one for a landmark event like UFC 205 - that would be one involving McGregor.
Per @MeganOlivi: Eddie Alvarez was sent a bout agreement for #UFC205 vs. Nurmagomedov. However, he missed the deadline to sign the contract.
— UFC Tonight (@UFCTonight) September 22, 2016
Late on Tuesday night, Eddie Alvarez was tweeting McGregor - 'Let's do this'. It would suggest that he, like most fighters in the UFC, recognises the draw of the Irishman and the pay day which comes with a bout against him. Though he didn't mention Alvarez, McGregor later sent out a tweet simply saying 'Beg Me'. No prizes for guessing who it was directed at.
To further complicate matters, UFC Tonight reported that McGregor is nursing a leg injury.
UFC Tonight report says Conor McGregor is rehabbing a leg injury. I wouldn't mind seeing him confirm that.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) September 22, 2016
ESPN's Brett Okamoto along with MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani have since contradicted those reports with sources saying McGregor is good to go for a title fight in New York on November 12th.
According to sources close to McGregor, Conor is "fine" and the leg would not prevent him from fighting at UFC 205.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) September 22, 2016
MMA Fighting also say that the only fight McGregor wants right now is a chance to take Alvarez's 155-pound belt. The two want to fight each other, but for unknown reasons, it is yet to be inked.
As it stands, UFC 205 has five fights on the card. Donald Cerrone vs Kevin Gastelum is currently the best of those. A press conference is scheduled for next Tuesday at MSG where the full card will be announced.
Photo by Joshua Dahl/Sportsfile
