Khabib Nurmagomedov urges Tony Ferguson to ‘step forward’ and call the UFC.
Despite four fight cancellations, reigning UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and former interim titleholder Tony Ferguson almost seemed destined to fight each other.
Nurmagomedov is set to collide with newly-crowned interim champ Dustin Poirier in a title unification bout at UFC 242, but there’s no denying that Ferguson, who is on a whopping twelve-fight win streak, is the rightful No. 1 contender.
With that said, UFC president Dana White is noncommittal on booking Khabib vs. Ferguson for a fifth time and ‘The Eagle’ has urged ‘El Cucuy’ to ‘step forward’ and take the initiative.
“Sure, we need a fight with Ferguson. Yet, I do not pick opponents. Actually, I have never done that,” Nurmagomedov said in a recent interview with Russia-24 (h/t Abhinav Kini of The Body Lock MMA).
“I am in great health and shape, I hold an undefeated streak, and I’ve got the belt. If Tony wants a fight, he has to step forward. I don’t care if it will be Poirier or Ferguson, I am ready to fight with anyone.”
Ferguson is going to have to step forward soon as, according to Nurmagomedov, retirement could be on the agenda after completing just ‘a few more fights’.
“No doubt, I am not a junior in this job, my career is ripe. Yet, I am willing to have a few more fights. I still feel this competition fire in me, the fire for a challenge,” Nurmagomedov said.
“I want to fight and display my fighting skills against the best athletes. Time will show, it doesn’t make sense to make any statements now, now I am concentrated on my upcoming fight.”
UFC 242: Khabib vs. Poirier takes place later this year, Sept. 7 at du Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.