UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov wants to settle the score with Tony Ferguson next year in Russia.
UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has a proposed date and location for a fight with former interim champion Tony Ferguson.
Nurmagomedov recently defended his title for the second time by defeating Dustin Poirier by third-round submission at UFC 242. Likely to face number-one contender Tony Ferguson next, Nurmagomedov recently spoke to RT Sport about his hopes of fighting Ferguson in the Gazprom Arena in Russia.
“It will be in March or April. I said it clearly – I want to fight in a large arena, and the only large indoor arena in Russia is Gazprom Arena (in St. Petersburg) … I have to say that Tony Ferguson deserves it more. You have to give him credit. He is on a 12-fight win streak and he deserves it more than Conor.
Khabib and Ferguson have been booked to fight each other four times, with everything from weight-cutting related incidents and last minutes injuries scrapping their fight bookings. Discussing a rematch with former two-division champion Conor McGregor, Khabib said the Irishman needs to ‘earn’ another shot at the title.
“Conor has to come back (and) stop hitting old people. He is a professional fighter. He should come back, win, earn his place and get in line.”
Ferguson (25-3) is currently on 12-fight winning streaks at 155-pounds, the longest in UFC lightweight history. “El Cucuy” has picked up wins against the best at lightweight during his impressive run, such as Donald Cerrone, Kevin Lee and Edson Barboza.