Nurmagomedov and Iaquinta (right) (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

Al Iaquinta came up short against Khabib Nurmagomedov this past April at UFC 223, and it doesn’t sound like he thinks Conor McGregor will defeat the lightweight champ either.

Iaquinta was moved into the UFC 223 main event, after both Tony Ferguson and Max Holloway were forced out of the headliner. Nurmagomedov went on to defeat Iaquinta by unanimous decision.

Recently Iaquinta spoke with MMA Fighting, and here’s some of what the lightweight contender had to say about Nurmagomedov – McGregor:

“The worst-case scenario, I think [Nurmagomedov] takes a few shots from Conor and just keeps coming forward,” Iaquinta said. “I mean, Conor obviously has the power to put him out, but I don’t know. Does he? I think a lot of people think he does, because he’s knocked a lot of people out, but Khabib is tough. He sees things, he’s got a little awkward style, which is different. It’s tough to adjust to, because it’s so different, standup-wise.”

“I think he could just get after him,” Iaquinta said while referring to Nurmagomedov. “Get after him, keep the pressure on him. Conor, he’s quit before. He’s given up. Against Diaz, it gets a little later rounds. I think he’s a pretty fighter. If the fight is pretty and it’s going good for him … [Chad] Mendes took that fight on no notice. He had zero in the gas tank going into that fight. If it’s five rounds of that, I think Conor is finding a way out.”

Nurmagomedov and McGregor are going to fight at UFC 229, which will take place on October 6th in Las Vegas.