Tony Ferguson simply can’t stop Khabib Nurmagomedov.
It’s been over 5 years since Ferguson and Nurmagomedov had been final set to compete for a UFC title, a reserving that fell via simply as a number of of their scheduled conferences had. The battle of light-weight greats stays one in all MMA’s most incessantly talked about “what if?” fights and it seems “El Cucuy” nonetheless has the rivalry on his thoughts.
In an interview with Helen Yee, Ferguson stated he nonetheless loves the thought of sometime teaching reverse Nurmagomedov on The Final Fighter, having beforehand gained the long-running UFC actuality present himself in 2011 as a member of staff Brock Lesnar.
“I’d undoubtedly take the chance to teach towards him,” Ferguson stated. “He’s a knucklehead, he’s nonetheless fats, and he wears that hat, I’d love to scrub the mats with it.
“However I feel that the chance, as a substitute of speaking shit, it could be fascinating to see what sort of talent degree every individual has. You’re speaking about—I imply, I used to be coached by Brock, proper?—I feel it could be an fascinating draw. So, I imply, Khabib, for certain, undoubtedly. I might speak to you all day about that.”
Ferguson and Nurmagomedov have each stayed within the headlines, with Ferguson nonetheless competing 17 years into a professional profession—and at present in an eight-fight droop—and Nurmagomedov staying energetic in retirement, most notably as coach and cornerman for UFC star Islam Makhachev.
A protégé of the undefeated Nurmagomedov, Makhachev has carved out a formidable legacy of his personal, having misplaced simply as soon as in 28 fights and claiming the report for many consecutive UFC light-weight title defenses at 4. Subsequent for Makhachev, he strikes as much as 170 kilos to face welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena later this yr.
From what Ferguson has seen, Makhachev stacks up properly towards his mentor, a minimum of on the subject of their extremely vaunted wrestling.
“Any person was telling me, who do you assume is a greater wrestler, is it Makhachev or is it Khabib?” Ferguson stated. “I feel Makhachev is the higher grappler, truthfully. I feel he’s a bit bit quicker. I feel with Khabib, I feel he’s just a bit bit extra not timid of the freestyle that Makhachev presents, however I feel Makhachev he’s not going to be so unhealthy at 170. I feel he’ll be alright.”
Requested for his ideas on Makhachev vacating the title, Ferguson thinks he’s finished sufficient to earn his shot at two-division champion standing, although he couldn’t assist however take the chance to take yet another verbal shot at Nurmagomedov.
“OK, so you may have Islam Makhachev that went up north to 170 after which you may have Ilia Topuria from ‘45, he’s going to go as much as ‘55 to battle [Charles Oliveira],” Ferguson stated. “Look, when it goes into it, you need to have any person f*cking battle for the belt. … When you may have [four title defenses], I feel that’s a sensible transfer. Whenever you go up, you’re going to attempt to construct legacy, you’re going to do sure issues like that.
“And he’s going to run like his cousin.”
