Tony Ferguson discusses two of his next potential opponents, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor.
Following a thrilling but controversial win over Donald Cerrone at UFC 238 last night, Tony Ferguson has sent mixed messages about what he wants next. It seems that the honorable fighter in him is cool with running it back with Cowboy, and he said as much in his post-fight interview and to Dana White afterward. But at the UFC 238 post-fight press conference, it seems more like he was interested in one of two men next – Khabib Nurmagomedov or Conor McGregor.
When asked about those two men and Khabib’s upcoming UFC 242 title unification fight against Dustin Poirier, Ferguson responded as only Ferguson can (transcribed by MMA Fighting):
“If Dustin Poirier don’t do it, I’m going to do it,” Ferguson said. “Tiramisu [Khabib Nurmagomedov] needs an ass whooping. He needs two to the stomach from me. If it’s McNuggets [Conor McGregor] for a money fight or whatever. He’s an athlete, too. I know the division misses him inside here. I’m pretty sure he misses the fight game, too.
“I want to keep winning. What sounds better than 12 [wins in a row]? 13 — but it sounds a hell of a lot better with a title shot in that 13th victory.”
He continued on later in regards to both of them:
“If I were to fight Khabib, guaran-damn-tee you I would throw him from his feet to his back and beat him like in sambo like a five-point move in wrestling. That’s my background,” Ferguson said. “As far as McNuggets goes, I would love to stand toe-to-toe go with that dude.
“I respect him as an athlete. As a person, he’s kind of a douche. It’s improper 13, it literally is, and I got an attitude and I have a different agency right now, which is great. There’s no conflict of interest, that’s No. 1 and No. 2 is, I’m here to kick some ass. I ran out of bubble gum. We’re here to do business.”
As mentioned, Khabib will meet Poirier in Abu Dhabi in September. McGregor still isn’t booked, but seems closer to returning that anytime lately. We’ll have to see how it all plays out, but El Cucuy isn’t short on options.