Nurmagomedov: I want title fight vs. Ferguson this year
Khabib Nurmagomedov: “Now I have one goal, fight end of the year in one dream fight. This is fight against Tony Ferguson. This is what I want.”
Undefeated top UFC lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov appeared recently on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, and discussed interim champion Tony Ferguson. The interim champ normally next fights the champ in a unification bout, and UFC president Dana White said he wants Ferguson vs. McGregor; that fight might be at UFC 219 on December 30. It makes sense as McGregor never defended the featherweight belt and has yet to defend the lightweight belt, and the belt isn’t entirely real until it’s successfully defended.
However, now recovered from a long period of illness and surgery recovery, ‘The Eagle’ has a different plan.
I hope UFC gives me a championship fight,” said ‘The Eagle’ as transcribed by MMA Weekly. “End of the year, I want to take everything back; attention, belts. I want to take everything. End of the year, I want to fix everything. And we’ll see what happens. But first of all, I think UFC has to make the fight, Conor versus Nate Diaz 3, and after, me and Tony.
Because, my opinion, I think Tony Ferguson is the real champion. That’s why. I don’t think, if I fight versus Tony Ferguson, this is an interim belt. Officially, yes. But people want to see me versus Tony Ferguson. I think this is a much better fight, for everything. If I beat Tony Ferguson and take the interim championship belt… Conor’s the official champion, but he’s not the people’s champion.
I understand a lot of fans, they treat me like ‘Hey, you have to fight,’ but I agree with this. It’s why I try to come back. It’s why I go into hospital, have surgeries. I agree with fans; I have to fight. I have to make weight. I have to stay professional sometimes. I agree with this.
But when I fight, I all the time smash my opponents. All the time, when I fight. Now I have one goal, fight end of the year in one dream fight. This is fight against Tony Ferguson. This is what I want.
Given that Nurmagomedov’s injuries and weight cutting issue have limited his fights to just three in the past four years, a title shot is perhaps less likely than a fight vs. the winner of Justin Gaethje vs. Eddie Alvarez. In his favor, however, are the whims of Conor McGregor, because if Notorious fancies a trilogy fight with Diaz, or a super fight with GSP, or boxing Paulie Malignaggi, or or or, then Nurmagomedov should get his wish after all.