It's one of the most eagerly anticipated matchups in UFC -- Tony Ferguson versus Khabib Nurmagomedov. On five separate occasions, the two lightweights were scheduled to meet in the Octagon. But for one reason or another, the bout has never come to fruition.
With Ferguson now 36-years-old and Khabib Nurmadomedov starting to talk the possibility of retiring, there's a chance UFC fans may never get blessed with these two greats squaring off in the cage. However, speaking to ESPN, Ferguson promised the two will meet before Nurmagomdeov retires.
Ferguson was supposed to fight Nurmagomedov for the lightweight title in April but the fight was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the fifth time in five years that the matchup between the two. Ferguson went on to fight Justin Gaethje in May and lost by fifth-round TKO, giving Gaethje the opportunity to fight Nurmagomedov for the 155-pound championship. The two will meet this weekend at UFC 254 while Ferguson watches from home.
"I see fear in his voice if he thinks he has to talk bad about people," the former lightweight champion told ESPN, referring to Nurmagomedov's previous comments that Ferguson won't ever be the same after suffering damage to Gaethje. "He can't put that s--- in my head. I will fight Khabib at one point or another. He will see me before he retires. We'll make that a point. I think everybody is writing me off after one loss, and f--- them. The casual fan base is trying to, but my hard-core fans are too much. They know too much. My value is way too much."
In the meantime, Ferguson continues to train preparing for a possible matchup against former Bellator MMA champion Michael Chandler in December. While Ferguson is open to a matchup against Chandler, he wants the UFC to renegotiate his contract first.
"Do I want to fight? Yes. I want to fight in December. I'm f---ing training. Let's go," Ferguson said. "But I don't think somebody who doesn't even belong here should be paid more than me. That's what I'm saying."