LOS ANGELES – UFC lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov said he is eight days ahead of schedule on his weight cut for a pivotal meeting with Edson Barboza at UFC 219.

Nurmagomedov indicated he weighs now what he did three days before his previously scheduled fight, an ill-fated interim title bout against Tony Ferguson at UFC 209.

That’s as much Nurmagomedov (24-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) will say about the issue in advance of the Dec. 30 event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. He scolded a reporter for pressing the issue during a media luncheon in support of his pay-per-view fight.

“Not big,” he said. “Asking fighters how much they weigh and how old they are is not a good idea. How old are you and how much do you weigh (are) two questions you can’t ask women and fighters.”

And so Nurmagomedov avoided a topic that’s been a defining feature of his recent career. The cancelation of the Ferguson (24-3 MMA, 14-1 UFC) bout marked the third time the matchup was canceled. Not only that, but Nurmagomedov was knocked down a rung on the title ladder. A potential showdown with UFC lightweight contender Conor McGregor, the Dagestan native’s prize opponent, was pushed further into the distance.

The UFC tried to rebook the fight with Ferguson at UFC 217, but Nurmagomedov didn’t accept the bout, leading the promotion to install Kevin Lee (16-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) opposite Ferguson at UFC 216, where Ferguson claimed the interim belt.

Nurmagomedov is trying to make up ground when he meets Barboza (19-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC), a resurgent lightweight veteran who’s won his past three bouts. Nurmagomedov plans to win decisively and then take on Ferguson for the interim belt.

With McGregor’s MMA career still a lingering question mark, it’s unclear what Nurmagomedov’s next step will be. His manager, Ali Abdelaziz, angrily tried to divert questions from the topic, though Nurmagomedov kept his cool.

Confident in his process, Nurmagomedov said he’s taken the steps needed to make sure he does his job next week. He knows what’s at stake.

“I want to see my fights, too,” he told MMAjunkie. “I’m a very big fan of MMA. I watch all fights. It’s not only about UFC; I watch Bellator and other organizations. I like my fights, too.

“I think first of all, you have to make weight. If you don’t make weight, there’s going to be trouble.”

For more on UFC 219, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.