John Kavanagh is clearly in the camp of those who think Conor McGregor’s UFC 257 main event against Dustin Poirier should be for the lightweight title. Khabib Nurmagomedov (29-0) has not officially vacated his 155-pound belt, despite announcing his retirement in the Octagon after submitting Justin Gaethje (22-3) in the second round of the UFC 254 main event on Fight Island. UFC president Dana White is hoping to convince the Dagestan native to come back and fulfil his late father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov’s dream by going 30-0. The pair will meet next month – crucially, before McGregor (22-4) and Poirier (26-6) rematch on January 23 in Abu Dhabi – and the Irishman’s coach is perplexed why a new champ is not being crowned. “I don’t really get why this one isn’t for the title, if I’m being 100 per cent honest,” Kavanagh told TheMacLife. “Maybe it’s Dana – this is a little carrot towards Khabib. I don’t know. “I know there’s types of games that go on that don’t involve myself, but this, for me, feels like it’s for the belt. I guess at the very least, the winner of this will be offered a title fight, but who would that be against? It’s a bit of a strange scene where we have in front of us, which makes it interesting.” UFC: Covington says Masvidal is ‘running’ from him Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz didn’t seem to be in agreement, however. “Because Khabib choke your guy like a chicken and the whole team got beat up after the fight,” Abdelaziz tweeted in response to Kavanagh’s words, referencing the infamous UFC 299 post-fight brawl that spilled outside the Octagon. “The Eagle” himself thinks the winner of the fight will go on to fight for the vacant belt. “Top three [lightweight] fighters right now?” Nurmagomedov said in Russian, translated by RT Sport. “Poirier, McGregor and [Islam] Makhachev. He is not in the top-five yet, but those are the best fighters. “My belt will be taken by the winner of Dustin and Conor.” The 32-year-old also gave an update on his meeting with White. “We are in touch with Dana White, we have not discussed why the belt is not vacant,” Nurmagomedov said in a translation via the TASS Russian news agency. “Apparently they want me to come back. I have been in league for nine years, there is already a history, a fan base, their desires are clear. “I will not hide the fact that they offer to return, offer conditions, [and] fighters. We will meet with Dana soon, we will discuss. I would not like there to be a possibility that I will return.”