TYRON WOODLEY has called for a 165lbs catchweight fight against UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

The ex-welterweight king has not fought since he lost his belt against Kamaru Usman at UFC 235 in March.

Despite planning a road back to 170lbs supremacy, Woodley, 37, told TMZ Sports he wants to face lightweight ruler Nurmagomedov but first must regain his welterweight title.

He said: “I want to fight Khabib, I got the best takedown defense in the history of the sport.

“He’s dope, man. There’s not too many guys around like that. He’s a once in a lifetime. I’m a fan of his.

“You know the good thing about it is he got one or two more fights in that (lightweight) division that make sense for him.

“He struggles to make 155. I got to get my belt back for this fight to make sense.

“He won’t even have to come up. We can do it at a catchweight, 165. I barely can make it but for the right bag.”

Nurmagomedov, 30, extended his unbeaten streak to 28-0 after he submitted Dustin Poirier in round three of their Abu Dhabi title fight this month.

The Russian is now lined up to face No2 ranked lightweight challenger Tony Ferguson – with the duo having seen FOUR scheduled bouts against each other fall through previously.

However, UFC president Dana White revealed if the bad luck is to continue then Nurmagomedov’s rival Conor McGregor – who he beat in October – is also in line for a crack at his former belt.

But the champion’s outspoken manager Ali Abdelaziz insists the lightweight king will face UFC legend Georges St-Pierre in his next defence.

Former welterweight and middleweight champion GSP, though, retired from MMA in February.

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