Ferguson: Iaquinta ‘exposed’ Nurmagomedov

Tony Ferguson won ten UFC fights in a row, capped by submitting Kevin Lee for the interim lightweight title, as then-division champion Conor McGregor was busy boxing and being famous. At UFC 223 Ferguson was supposed to fight undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov for the full title, as McGregor would be stripped that day. In the end, McGregor stripped himself via Wheels Coming Off, and Ferguson suffered a freak LCL injury, leaving Nurmagomedov to beat an admirably game Al Iaquinta for the undisputed belt.

It was the third time a Ferguson vs. Nurmagomedov fight was canceled. In a conversation with Helen Yee at the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony on Thursday, ‘ El Cucuy’ talked about it all.

I was not impressed by Khabib’s performance, said Ferguson, as transcribed by Jed Meshew for MMA Fighting. Obviously his conditioning was in check a little bit. Al Iaquinta, he did what he had to do and he was an Ultimate Fighter, he went all five rounds. It was exactly what I expected was gonna happen. [Khabib] got exposed, it’s what I knew.

Ferguson underwent surgery in April and intends to return to the Octagon this year, but not thing is set.

Don’t know, haven’t heard s***,” said Ferguson. “What I know is I’ve been keeping my nose clean, making sure that my leg is healing right. As far as how the fights are gonna go, the fans want to see myself and Khabib. That’s what they really want to see. Conor’s got his s*** going on – slap on the wrist, whatever, that’s not my business – so if the s*** happens and they want to go with Khabib, let’s do this. Let’s have some fun with it.

Nurmagomedov’s observation o

f the holy month of Ramadan ended on June 14. Ferguson’s knee is healing well. For both September sounds good.

I’m about 90 percent right now,” said Ferguson. “Obviously, I want to get back in there. September looks good for me.

The UFC may be trying to make Khabib vs. McGregor. If that happens, Ferguson has a single wish.

I hope they both get knocked out.