Dana White: Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson ‘ain’t happening’ due to contract dispute

White says that Tony Ferguson can’t come to an agreement to fight Nurmagomedov due to fighter pay.

There’s a lot of buzz surrounding a potential interim lightweight title fight between top contenders Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson at UFC 209 next year.

Russian media outlet Izvestia.ru reported that Dana White would be announcing the bout in the coming days, but the UFC president almost completely shut down the idea at a recent UFC 207 media scrum in Las Vegas.

According to White, ‘El Cucuy’ insisted that he would only fight Nurmagomedov for the same pay.

“So we were trying to make that fight — Tony said he will not do that fight unless he makes the same exact money that Khabib makes. Khabib has a different deal. That ain’t happening. Count that out,” White confirmed, via Damon Martin of FOX Sports.

The longtime head promoter said that Ferguson had signed a contract not long ago and that fighters have a duty to uphold the listed terms and conditions.

“He has a contract that he just signed. Not long ago,” White continued. There’s a thing where these guys, I honor every contract no matter what it is. I get into some (expletive) deals, too. You’ve got a guy who’s making tons of money but he was a champion, but that was the deal I cut. I cut that deal and I signed it and I’ve got to live with my deal.”

Ferguson, a winner of 9 straight, battered ex-LW champ Rafael dos Anjos at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale and is ranked as the No. 2 contender in the world.

Nurmagomedov, 28, is undefeated and recently outclassed the highly touted Michael Johnson at UFC 205. The Dagestani fighter is one of the most feared grapplers in the sport and is a two-time Sambo world champion.

White was reported to have walked out of a meeting earlier this year with Nate Diaz in Stockton, California when the former lightweight title challenger issued his terms for a rematch with Conor McGregor.

That bout eventually took place in August, and a LW championship tilt between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson could still get the go ahead if an agreement is reached in the coming weeks.

White says that Tony Ferguson can’t come to an agreement to fight Nurmagomedov due to fighter pay.

There’s a lot of buzz surrounding a potential interim lightweight title fight between top contenders Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson at UFC 209 next year.

Russian media outlet Izvestia.ru reported that Dana White would be announcing the bout in the coming days, but the UFC president almost completely shut down the idea at a recent UFC 207 media scrum in Las Vegas.

According to White, ‘El Cucuy’ insisted that he would only fight Nurmagomedov for the same pay.

“So we were trying to make that fight — Tony said he will not do that fight unless he makes the same exact money that Khabib makes. Khabib has a different deal. That ain’t happening. Count that out,” White confirmed, via Damon Martin of FOX Sports.

The longtime head promoter said that Ferguson had signed a contract not long ago and that fighters have a duty to uphold the listed terms and conditions.

“He has a contract that he just signed. Not long ago,” White continued. There’s a thing where these guys, I honor every contract no matter what it is. I get into some (expletive) deals, too. You’ve got a guy who’s making tons of money but he was a champion, but that was the deal I cut. I cut that deal and I signed it and I’ve got to live with my deal.”

Ferguson, a winner of 9 straight, battered ex-LW champ Rafael dos Anjos at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale and is ranked as the No. 2 contender in the world.

Nurmagomedov, 28, is undefeated and recently outclassed the highly touted Michael Johnson at UFC 205. The Dagestani fighter is one of the most feared grapplers in the sport and is a two-time Sambo world champion.

White was reported to have walked out of a meeting earlier this year with Nate Diaz in Stockton, California when the former lightweight title challenger issued his terms for a rematch with Conor McGregor.

That bout eventually took place in August, and a LW championship tilt between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson could still get the go ahead if an agreement is reached in the coming weeks.