via Getty
DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 29: Kristaps Porzingis (6) of the Dallas Mavericks questions being called for charging Paul Millsap (4) of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter on Tuesday, October 29, 2019. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
via Getty
DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 29: Kristaps Porzingis (6) of the Dallas Mavericks questions being called for charging Paul Millsap (4) of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter on Tuesday, October 29, 2019. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks big man Kristaps Porzingis evidently has interests outside basketball. The former all-star is on the comeback trail after a series of knee injuries. It turns out that one of his non-basketball interests is the sport of mixed martial arts. Specifically, the UFC.
While answering fan questions on Instagram, Porzingis responded to a fan asking about the UFC Lightweight title conundrum. Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov retired after his win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. As a result, the title is currently in limbo, but there are small hints that Khabib may postpone his retirement.
Porzingis said that his ideal next Lightweight title fight would be a rematch between Khabib and rival Conor McGregor. He also gave a contingency, saying that if Khabib stays retired, it should be Conor against either Tony Ferguson or Dustin Poirier.
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Porzingis demands may be the most tantalizing fights, they aren’t the most practical. Conor hasn’t earned another shot at Khabib anyway, so that fight wouldn’t really happen. However, every fan can dream and that is what KP is doing. If only there was a way to make this fight a reality.
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Dallas Mavericks and how they build around Porzingis
Porzingis isn’t the number one star in Dallas, as he has a superstar teammate in Luka Doncic. Not having to be the number one option in Dallas should help KP ease into the team after his injury setback in the playoffs. We saw him have a slow start to last season before tearing the league up in the new year. He was dominant in the bubble as well, but clearly ailing from his knee troubles.
As the NBA seems to be nearing a December return, Kristaps Porzingis appears to be progressing, too.
On his Instagram story, KP provided a no-crutches, normal-walking, soon-to-be-lifting-and-shooting health update: pic.twitter.com/uChmfacP4e
— Callie Caplan (@CallieCaplan) November 4, 2020
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Thankfully, Porzingis looks to be on the right track. He is currently estimated to miss roughly the first three weeks of the season if it begins on December 22. Until then, he can watch a lot of the great fights coming up. This includes UFC 256, which will be headlined by Women’s Bantamweight and Featherweight champion Amanda Nunes. The same card will also see Bantamweight champion Petr Yan defend his belt for the first time against top contender Aljamain Sterling.
