One to Watch: Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Michael Johnson | FIGHTLAND

Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC

?It's finally here. Saturday night sees the UFC hold its first ever event in New York City, at Madison Square Garden no less, and is celebrating in the most appropriate way possible—a mega fight card to provide some reprieve and finally give New Yorkers what they've been craving for.

It is actually the second time the UFC has held a show in New York State with UFC 7 being contested in Buffalo before the long, arduous professional MMA ban imposed on the state—which was eventually revoked earlier this year following close to a decade of extensive efforts led by the UFC to get mixed martial arts recognised as a legitimate sport in the area.

We could spend hours writing about this card which, on paper, appears to be one of the greatest in the history of MMA with quality from top to bottom. However, one significant fight flying under the radar is the contest between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Michael Johnson. The lightweight title may be on the line in the event's headliner, but this fight between two top 155lbs contenders carries significant importance—all the while producing a fascinating styles clash.

The fact this featured fight is slated to appear on the televised preliminary card on Fox Sports is indicative of the sheer scale of UFC 205. This fight's position in the event's running order should not cheapen the importance of this fight, though, with major divisional implications depending on its result—a result which could determine the next challenger to either Alvarez or McGregor depending on the outcome of their main event appearances.

Despite the magnitude of this particular match-up, Nurmagomedov isn't exactly best pleased with it and he certainly has good reasoning behind the obvious displeasure he's made public in the lead-up to his fight against Johnson.

Nurmagomedov was heavily rumoured to be the man to face Alvarez in the UFC's inaugural show in New York City. That gossip was substantiated as it transpired the UFC did indeed offer the Russian a fight contract to compete for the UFC lightweight championship for the first time. However, many feel the UFC cleverly (or underhandedly, depending on your disposition) used Khabib as a pawn to help negotiate down Alvarez's contract demands to face McGregor. Unfortunately for Nurmagomedov, Alvarez was happy to play ball with the UFC and thus the main event was created.

Instead of waiting for Saturday night's headliner to determine his next opponent, Nurmagomedov made the risky decision to take on the game Johnson, who is fresh off a devastating knockout win over streaking lightweight contender Dustin Poirier. For the Russian, he plainly wanted to be a part of mixed martial arts history—no matter the opponent. "I don't care who I have to fight, because in New York, there are a lot of Russian fans, and a lot of Russian fans want to watch my fights," Nurmagomedov told MMAjunkie. "They said, 'You can wait, we'll give you $100,000, and maybe if someone is injured, you'll (fight). But I said I didn't like it. I want to fight. I'm ready for anybody, and I know I deserve this."

With plenty of rhetoric surrounding Nurmagomedov's trials and tribulations—and what a potential win for the Dagestani could mean for him and the future of the lightweight division—it's easy to think Nurmagomedov and many MMA pundits are overlooking the opponent who will be standing across from him in the cage on Saturday night.

Such a lackadaisical approach could spell danger for Nurmagomedov—Johnson has proven to be one of the trickiest competitors who have found home in the shark tank of a weight class at lightweight. Johnson's starching of Poirier made the combat sports world stand up and take notice, though he still finds himself assuming the role as the significant betting underdog for Saturday night—which isn't overly shocking considering Nurmagomedov's flawless 23-0 MMA career and top-level sambo credentials.

Johnson isn't one to concern himself with the thoughts and opinions of others—if anything, he uses the doubts as fuel for his fire. Talking at the UFC 205 media day on Wednesday, Johnson told the assembled press: "It seems like that's the trend—?it seems like no matter what I do, people are going to pick the other guy or overlook me. I've come to terms with it now. I'm fine with it. It's been like that my whole career, and I hope it continues that way." Johnson's got a point—he was also an underdog in his aforementioned fight against Poirier, but we now know how that turned out.

The talk surrounding Nurmagomedov's contract issues concerning a potential fight with present UFC lightweight champion Alvarez does indeed suggest Johnson's opponent could well be overlooking the challenge ahead of him. But, again, American Johnson is using this as motivation for Saturday night and earn a spot in the title mix himself. "I'm here to fuck up everyone's plans – I'll tell you that right now," he said. "I'll throw a huge wrench in it. Me beating him puts me at the top of the list. I have a win over (Tony) Ferguson. I have a win over Edson (Barboza). It puts me at the top of the list to be next in line for that title shot, and if not, then I'll continue to train and I'll continue to fight."

"Who'd he (Nurmagomedov) beat to fight for the title?" Johnson asked. "Everybody says this guy should fight for the title, he's undefeated, he's done that… he's fought, what? Seven times in the UFC—?he's beaten one good person, and that's (Rafael) dos Anjos. Everyone else has been trash, really. I think he's getting too much credit and he doesn't deserve it. He needs to beat better guys and be more active, and then he might get his title shot. But after Saturday, he's going to be far away from one. Dos Anjos was a big test, but I don't think dos Anjos was as good as he is now when he fought him. But I think I'm his biggest test to date and his biggest competition for sure."

Johnson appears more than up for arguably the biggest test of his career thus far on Saturday night despite a relatively quick turnaround from his Poirier victory. Nurmagomedov's mind may be wandering thanks to some questionable contract negotiations preceding this fight, but the Dagestani is one of the most formidable members of the talent-rich lightweight division. This contest is a proper styles clash complete with some serious divisional implications all wrapped into one neat little present for these fight-starved New Yorkers. Can't. Wait. 

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