Tony Ferguson simply wasn’t happy with what he was being offered.
In August, it was first reported that former UFC Interim Lightweight Champions Tony Ferguson and Dustin Poirier were in talks to fight at UFC 254. Weeks later, it was revealed that the highly anticipated match-up would no longer take place at the pay-per-view due to Poirier not being happy with UFC’s financial offer.
It appears that Ferguson wasn’t thrilled with the company’s financial offers as well as the 36-year-old stated in an interview with ESPN that the company offers ultimately turned him off from fighting at the upcoming show:
“The UFC kept delaying telling us the (Poirier) fight was confirmed,” Ferguson said. “It was like, the minute they asked, I’m still training for Dustin, for the Chandler thing. Now, they’re bringing in a new dude, who I have no (expletive) clue who he is. I’m not trying to (expletive) on him from a marketing standpoint, but the dude has less than 100,000 (followers) on Twitter. You’re going to try to get him more notoriety by throwing him against me and throw him on the Khabib card. I get that, but don’t pay the (expletive) more than us. He has zero time in the UFC. I don’t know about ‘roids and all that stuff. I don’t get into that (expletive) with everybody.”
Fegurson understands that he has to earn his way back into the championship match against Khabib Nurmegomedov, but the former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion stresses that he wants to be paid what he deserves:
“Everybody wants me to fight Khabib right?” Ferguson said. “But I’ve got to earn my right back. OK, cool. Who’s it going to be? Dustin? Or is it going to be Chandler? I don’t give a (expletive). I said it was a tournament. Now we’re adding in people. Alright, cool. Here we go again. Today marks the celebration, right? Khabib and (Conor) McGregor. That (expletive) wouldn’t have happened unless they stripped my belt. So, (expletive) you. Pay me instead of this (expletive) clown.”
At this point in his career, Ferguson is done trying to help others and promises to kick Gaethje’s ass the next time they meet inside of the octagon:
“Like I said, Chandler, I have nothing against you – and Dustin, I have nothing against you. But I ain’t trying to help no one no more. Justin Gaethje, you’re (expletive) welcome you have a belt, son. I guarantee you I’m going to tell you to go get my belt because your ass is going to get (expletive) whipped. I’m coming for it. So both you and (expletive) fathead, this is a message for both of you knuckleheads. It’s my mat and my time.”