Khabib Nurmagomedov is interested in becoming a two-division UFC champion, but he's not talking about moving up to welterweight.

Instead, the undefeated lightweight contender is actually contemplating a move down to 145 pounds. After experiencing a much easier weight cut for his upcoming fight against Edson Barboza at UFC 219 while working with nutritionist Tyler Minton, "The Eagle's" perspective has started to shift.

"Yeah, I think about this," Nurmagomedov said on Thursday when asked about moving to featherweight. "We think about this last month because we watch our weight and we watch how many guys who fight at 145 [pounds] have same weight like me. 

"I think taking the belt in two divisions is a good idea, but everybody think about I can fight at 170 [pounds]. But to be honest, I'm a small guy in 170."

This may all sound like crazy talk coming from Nurmagomedov considering he was pulled from his last fight in March against Tony Ferguson after his body shut down while cutting weight to get down to 155 pounds. Nurmagomedov ended up in the hospital with kidney issues due to the severe weight cut, and he has missed weight once before during his UFC career.

Still, Nurmagomedov believes that working with his new nutritionist has led him to a much healthier weight ahead of UFC 219 in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Add to that, the undefeated Russian feels like he would just be undersized competing at welterweight and pointed to another popular fighter's misfortune in reference.

"We can watch 'Cowboy' (Cerrone) but Cowboy is small at 170. At 155, he does not look small. But (Rafael) Dos Anjos when he fight with Robbie Lawler, Neil Magny or other guys, he looks small. He beat these guys but he looks small," Nurmagomedov said. "That's why I think at 170, I am small, but in training I compete with middleweights, welterweights, lightweights but when you go to the fight with high level welterweights, you have to weigh like 190 (pounds) when you go the cage."

Nurmagomedov believes nine weeks would be sufficient time to cut down to 145 pounds, but that's not his priority right now.

His current agenda is focused on beating Barboza and then targeting a fight in early 2018 against the interim lightweight champion Ferguson. After that, Nurmagomedov might begin considering a second championship to add to his resume. 

"My plan: Edson (Barboza) and Tony (Ferguson)," Nurmagomedov said. "After we're going to think about this (move)."

By Damon Martin