Eddie Alvarez names 3 Lightweights as future champions if Khabib Nurmagomedov doesn’t return

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4 years ago

Khabib Nurmagomedov is currently undefeated in his MMA career (Image credit: Getty)

Khabib Nurmagomedov is still the UFC Lightweight champion but Eddie Alvarez brought up three stars who could replace him at the top

MMA legend Eddie Alvarez knows a thing or two about winning titles. He has won the Lightweight gold at Bellator and UFC and is now fighting at ONE.

Alvarez still dreams of winning the gold and is set to fight Iuri Lapicus next. However, he also shared his thoughts on the current situation in the UFC Lightweight division.

UFC Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez reacts during UFC 205 Weigh-ins at Madison Square Garden on November 11, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Alvarez was speaking to Helen Yee and was asked what should be done if Khabib Nurmagomedov doesn’t return. The Russian still holds the UFC Lightweight title but retired from the sport more than four months ago.

There are several challengers for the title and Alvarez claimed three stars could take up the gold. However, Conor McGregor was not one of the Lightweights that Alvarez name:

“That is such a tough question. If I had to guess, in the next year or so, I could see it around, I could see Justin Gaethje getting it, I could see Charles Oliveira getting it and I can see Dustin Poirier getting it.

“The guys put their time in, I mean they took their lickings, they flipped the best guys over and over and over, and they are more deserving of it than anybody else in that top 5 right now.”

The UFC has to decide who gets the chance to move up first

Alvarez went on to say that all three could be champions in the future and it was up to the UFC to decide who would get the crack at the title first.

The UFC is harping on a trilogy between McGregor and Poirier. However, it is unlikely that will be for the UFC title.

(R-L) Dustin Poirier punches Conor McGregor of Ireland in a lightweight fight during the UFC 257 event inside Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 23, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Oliveira also is expected to fight soon and it will be interesting to see who the Brazilian faces. Gaethje is in a tough spot since he is the only one to have lost his last fight.

However, the Highlight lost that to Khabib, and the Russian retired right after that battle.

The UFC Lightweight division is brimming with champions-to-be and the UFC has some tough decisions to make.