Top-ranked UFC lightweight contender Tony Ferguson has officially called out Dana White and current lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. The former interim champion, who was stripped of the title due to injury, called for the highly anticipated fight to take place on December 14 at UFC 245.
Taking to social media, Ferguson posted a collage of all of the fighters he has bloodied in the past, suggesting there's room for Khabib.
Most would agree that Ferguson is due for his shot at the title. He's the current No. 1 contender in the lightweight division, holds an all-time record of 15-1 in the Octagon, and is riding a 12-fight win streak. His most recent fight was an impressive TKO win over Donald Cerrone. And before that he scored a TKO win over Anthony Pettis.
Nurmagomedov, meanwhile, is a perfect 28-0. He most recently defeated Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 earlier this month to unify the lightweight championship. He also soundly defeated Conor McGregor at UFC 229 back in October 2018.
Tony Ferguson versus Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight belt is the fight that makes the most sense, but it's unlikely to happen at UFC 245. That card already has two title fights booked: Max Hollyoway vs. Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight belt and Amanda Nunes vs. Germaine de Randamie for the bantamweight belt.
A fight between Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov has been a long time coming. The two fighters have attempted to meet in the Octagon on four separate occasions, but injuries have always seemed to get in the way.