Tony Ferguson will collide with top Lightweight contender, Charles Oliveira, this Saturday night (Dec. 12, 2020) at UFC 256 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The winner could be in line for a shot at the title, which is still technically in the possession of Khabib Nurmagomedov.
For “El Cucuy,” however, winning another UFC belt isn’t exactly on his priority list since he’s already had a taste of it, albeit on an interim bases. Still, while Ferguson won’t exactly turn down a title fight, he won’t be begging for it either.
“I’ve got the belt in my room. I could go after another belt, but how much greed is that? I’ve got an ‘Ultimate Fighter’ trophy,” Ferguson during a UFC 256 virtual media day (via MMA Junkie).
Of course, Ferguson couldn’t resist taking a jab at Nurmagomedov.
“I’ve got a Fighters Only award trophy. I’ve got a UFC belt. I’ve got medals, and I’m ‘Lord of the Rings’ with all my championship rings. How much greed can you want? You want to be like Khabib (Nurmagomedov) and hold on to it?”
In Khabib’s defense, it was UFC President, Dana White, who refused to vacate the title after “The Eagle” announced his retirement after UFC 254 in the hopes that the dominant champion would return for one more fight.
And we’re still waiting to see how that plays out…
For Ferguson, clawing his way back another title fight isn’t appealing since it too him so long to get his first shot in 2017, six years after making his UFC debut.
“Man, that title is a wet dream. Like that Farmers Insurance commercial: ‘Oh, you almost got it. Keep it going. We’re just going to keep dangling it in front of you.’ I don’t know what the problem is. I don’t know if it’s because I’m Mexican. I’m American with Mexican parts. Twelve-fight win streak.
“Eight years in the making, before women’s sports were even in. Conor (McGregor) was on welfare. … All these different things, and I still didn’t earn a title shot.”
Ferguson’s second title shot didn’t take as long to roll around, as he faces off against Justin Gaethje at UFC 249 earlier this year, though he eventually came up short, losing to “Highlight” via fifth-round knockout. And if he manages to defeat “Do Bronx” in “Sin City,” a third title fight could come around soon.
Unless one of these two men have a say in the matter.