Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
It’s safe to say that no fighter has truly rattled undefeated UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov inside of the cage. The same can likely be said for outside of it, even though Conor McGregor tried his hardest to ruffle the Russian’s feathers for their grudge match back in 2018.
Now, as Khabib prepares to defend his 155-pound crown against rival Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 on April 18 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, fight fans may finally get to see an opponent get under the skin of “Eagle.” After all, Khabib and Ferguson have been scheduled to fight four times before so they happen to know one another pretty well.
Khabib and Ferguson stepped on the same stage earlier tonight (Fri., Mar. 6, 2020) for UFC 249’s pre-fight press conference (video replay HERE) in Las Vegas, Nevada, and things were certainly not cordial. While Khabib tested Ferguson’s patience by claiming he isn’t a real Mexican fighter it was “El Cucuy” who did the most damage on the microphone.
First, Ferguson took a shot at Khabib’s weight, comparing his body to that of teammate and former UFC champion Daniel Cormier:
THESE TWO NEVER STOP! #UFC249 pic.twitter.com/x2M1TlG4YC
— UFC (@ufc) March 6, 2020
Next, Ferguson proclaimed that he is going to make Khabib “piss blood” by utilizing his old man strength when the two meet this April:
“CHAMP S**T ONLY!”
These two are relentless on the mic #UFC249 pic.twitter.com/l57CSIyZxH
— UFC (@ufc) March 6, 2020
At the end of the press conference Ferguson started to notice he was getting under Khabib’s skin just a little bit (something we haven’t seen too often). That prompted “El Cucuy” to poll fight fans in attendance as to whether or not he was in the champ’s head:
“Raise your hand if you think I’m in his head already.” #UFC249 pic.twitter.com/t7EruvKYi3
— UFC (@ufc) March 6, 2020
Finally, Ferguson took things one step further during the press conference staredown when he laid his belt on stage and insisted that Khabib lay down his as well. Nurmagomedov did not oblige and ended up kicking Ferguson’s belt. Check it out below:
THE RIVALRY IS BACK!
@TeamKhabib vs @TonyFergusonXT
We’ll see you soon, Brooklyn! #UFC249 pic.twitter.com/UzoNpJ9xnw
— UFC (@ufc) March 6, 2020
What say you, Maniacs? Did UFC 249’s pre-fight press conference tell us anything about this lightweight title fight? Is Ferguson finally in the head of Khabib?
Sound off!
For more UFC 249 fight card news click here.