Nurmagomedov says Alvarez turned down a fight against him twice

Ever since Eddie Alvarez dethroned Rafael dos Anjos last month, Khabib Nurmagomedov has been eyeing a fight with the new UFC lightweight champion. And according to the top contender, Alvarez went as far as declining a fight against him.

In a pair of tweets written Tuesday, Nurmagomedov claimed UFC president Dana White wanted to book Alvarez vs. himself as the main event of UFC on FOX 21 in Vancouver, and then again on an October card.

Yes Dana ask me to fight him in Canada main event and he turn it down https://t.co/5X035KclYv

— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) August 16, 2016

He was offered to fight me end of August in Canada, again in October. He 100% ducking https://t.co/pF81nFiNRY

— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) August 16, 2016

As of right now, Alvarez has not responded to Nurmagomedov’s recent comments. But he made it clear after his title victory last month he has limited interest in a fight against the Russian and instead wants to fight the winner of Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor II, which headlines UFC 202 this weekend.

Nurmagomedov (23-0) sat on the sidelines from April 2014 to this past April —  nearly two years — because of numerous injuries. He returned earlier this year and picked up a stoppage win over Darrell Horcher. He also holds a victory over former champ dos Anjos.