Tag: Tony Ferguson

Islam Makhachev Wants To Prove Tony Ferguson Was Never On Khabib’s Level

MakhachevIslam Makhachev wants Tony Ferguson next. Following his win over Thiago Moises in the UFC Vegas 31 headliner last night, Makhachev listed off a number of names he was interested in fighting from Rafael dos Anjos to Michael Chandler. One other name was Ferguson and it’s not only because of his ranking, but rather, the […]

Makhachev

Islam Makhachev wants Tony Ferguson next.

Following his win over Thiago Moises in the UFC Vegas 31 headliner last night, Makhachev listed off a number of names he was interested in fighting from Rafael dos Anjos to Michael Chandler.

One other name was Ferguson and it’s not only because of his ranking, but rather, the history “El Cucuy” has with Makhachev’s friend and teammate Khabib Nurmagomedov.

“If they were to give me a choice, let’s do it with Tony because we have good history with him,” Makhachev said at the post-fight press conference (via MMA Junkie). “Khabib was supposed to fight with him like five, six times. Let’s finish this, you know. I’m going to finish this.

“I’m going to show Tony not Khabib level. People don’t understand how Khabib pressures. I can’t explain to you guys, but I think you know everything.”

Of course, Ferguson is on a three-fight losing streak and is also 37 years of age. Beating him right now doesn’t prove much, especially as most fans were excited to see him fight Nurmagomedov from 2015 to 2018.

Regardless, if the fight does happen, Makhachev has a chance to beat Ferguson and become a top-five fighter in the process so it’s a win-win regardless.

As for comparisons with Nurmagomedov? Makhachev has no problem with it even if he is a different fighter to the former lightweight king.

“If somebody says I’m almost the same as Khabib, I agree with this,” Makhachev said. “I want to be like Khabib, you know. He’s a great man, he’s champion, he has a lot of money and he has everything, but he’s still a humble guy.

“He’s coming to U.S. without his family. He stays here one, two months to help us. He doesn’t take money, nothing. He just comes and does the whole thing. We came to U.S. and he rent big house for team and a lot of cars for team and nobody pay. He pay for everything. I cannot explain Khabib. He does a lot of stuff, but not everyone knows this.”

Islam Makhachev Wants ‘Interesting’ Michael Chandler Fight Next, Tony Ferguson Another Option

MakhachevIslam Makhachev wants a highly-ranked opponent next. Makhachev made it eight wins in a row after a dominant performance over Thiago Moises as he eventually got the fourth-round submission victory in the UFC Vegas 31 headliner. In the post-fight interview, the Dagestan native called for a fight with Rafael dos Anjos. However, he would have […]

Makhachev

Islam Makhachev wants a highly-ranked opponent next.

Makhachev made it eight wins in a row after a dominant performance over Thiago Moises as he eventually got the fourth-round submission victory in the UFC Vegas 31 headliner.

In the post-fight interview, the Dagestan native called for a fight with Rafael dos Anjos. However, he would have other names in mind as well.

Who would be his ideal fight? Well, Makhachev clearly can’t make up his mind as Tony Ferguson was one answer.

In another interview, Michael Chandler was his top pick.

However, it does seem to be edging towards the No. 4-ranked Chandler as Makhachev — who believes it’s an interesting fight — even got to tell it to the former title challenger directly who was an analyst in the studio.

“Chandler, if you hear me, let’s go, let’s do this. You come from Bellator, I want to check your skills,” Makhachev told him.

Chandler was all praise for his performance and responded by saying “we’ll see what happens.”

You can watch it below:

Who should be next for Makhachev?

Makhachev ‘Politely’ Offers To Assist RDA & Ferguson With Retirement

Islam Makhachev is either taking up a side gig as The Retirement Fairy or he has decided to take a different approach in scoring a top-ranked opponent.  Islam Makhachev is known as one of the scariest fighters on the entire UFC roster, let alone t…

Islam Makhachev is either taking up a side gig as The Retirement Fairy or he has decided to take a different approach in scoring a top-ranked opponent.  Islam Makhachev is known as one of the scariest fighters on the entire UFC roster, let alone the lightweight division. It is precisely for this reason that the […]

Continue Reading Makhachev ‘Politely’ Offers To Assist RDA & Ferguson With Retirement at MMA News.

Dan Hooker Calls For Ferguson Or Diaz At UFC 266: ‘That’s What The Fans Want To See’

Dan HookerTop lightweight contender Dan Hooker is officially calling out of Nate Diaz and Tony Ferguson, particularly for UFC 266 in September. UFC 266 is set to take place on September 25 and will see a main event between UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz and No. 1 contender Glover Teixeira. Also being targeted for this […]

Dan Hooker

Top lightweight contender Dan Hooker is officially calling out of Nate Diaz and Tony Ferguson, particularly for UFC 266 in September.

UFC 266 is set to take place on September 25 and will see a main event between UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz and No. 1 contender Glover Teixeira. Also being targeted for this event is UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega. Hooker, a longtime teammate of Volkanovski at City Kickboxing, has long been calling wanting a fight with the Diaz bro. He is now also turning his attention to another brawler and fellow lightweight contender, Tony Ferguson

Speaking to Farah Hannoun of MMAjunkie.com, Hooker explained why Diaz and Ferguson are at the top of his list for potential fights.

“Definitely, that fight (against Diaz) has my interest. I had just seen the video of him saying he wants to get back in there in three or four months, and if you want to fight put your hand up, and that’s something I’m quite well known for – is putting my hands up for fights and taking opportunities and not staying silent in moments like that. I’m not afraid to ask for things that I want. I just see a good fight. I just feel I’ll bring the kind of fight that would do a Diaz brother justice, and it works in the timeline,” Hooker explained about Diaz, before turning his attention to Ferguson.

“That’s just a fight that gets me excited, and that’s what the fans want to see,” Hooker said of Ferguson. “They want to see you in fights that you’re excited to be in. That Tony Ferguson-Dan Hooker fight, I feel like that’s a bloodbath. I feel like that’s an absolute war, and that’s a fight that definitely gets me up and gets me excited – so it’s on my list.”

Either matchup for Hooker would be set for fireworks and a likely fight of the night contender and would be a great addition to a stacked card for September.

Do you think we see either of these matchups go down in September? How do you see them playing out?

Dan Hooker Expresses Interest In A Fight Against Ferguson Or Dariush

Dan Hooker fancies a fight against either Tony Ferguson or Beneil Dariush. In a recent interview with Submission Radio, top ten lightweight contender Hooker believes a fight against Ferguson would make for a fan-friendly fight as the thought of fightin…

Dan Hooker fancies a fight against either Tony Ferguson or Beneil Dariush. In a recent interview with Submission Radio, top ten lightweight contender Hooker believes a fight against Ferguson would make for a fan-friendly fight as the thought of fighting “El Cucuy” gets him excited. “Those are two great fights for me,” said Hooker. “Those […]

Continue Reading Dan Hooker Expresses Interest In A Fight Against Ferguson Or Dariush at MMA News.

Dan Hooker Prefers Tony Ferguson Or Beneil Dariush As Next Opponent

HookerDan Hooker is targeting an opponent ranked higher than him. The New Zealander is currently on a two-fight losing streak following a unanimous decision defeat to Dustin Poirier last year before suffering a first-round TKO against Michael Chandler earlier this year. It’s been a while since that setback against Chandler, but Hooker is now ready […]

Hooker

Dan Hooker is targeting an opponent ranked higher than him.

The New Zealander is currently on a two-fight losing streak following a unanimous decision defeat to Dustin Poirier last year before suffering a first-round TKO against Michael Chandler earlier this year.

It’s been a while since that setback against Chandler, but Hooker is now ready to compete again and snap his current losing streak. As for who he wants?

He is open to fighting whoever the UFC offers him. But if he had to choose, he has two foes in mind in particular — Tony Ferguson and Beneil Dariush.

“I would say (Ferguson and Dariush) are two great fights for me. Those are two fights that I would really love,” Hooker said in a recent interview (via Middle Easy). “I feel like Tony is just a guy that I would love to fight. I feel like the fans would love to see that fight, I feel like everybody wants to see that fight, and I’m sure that will be one heck of a fight. It’s just funny that you’ll get less credit for beating him now, even though I feel like it’s just as tough of a fight than he was three fights ago…

“That fight, when the name gets said, that’s a fight that gets me excited. That’s a fight where you get goosebumps, and you get the adrenaline pumping. And really as a fighter, that’s what we’re in this for.”

As far as Dariush is concerned, Hooker believes he’s a skilled opponent with a high rank. However, his name value is what makes him less appealing.

Not that Hooker doesn’t want to fight him either as he labels him as the most underrated guy in the division.

“Beneil, yeah, good performance, great performance (against Ferguson),” Hooker added. “I feel like Beneil’s that ugly girl at the dance. Now Beneil, I’m not calling you ugly mate, but I don’t mean that in an offensive way. I mean that as in I feel like he’s probably the most talented guy, skill for skill.

“I feel like he’s the most skilled guy in the division, I feel like he’s one of the most well rounded guys, but he doesn’t have the name recognition that some of the other guys in the top five have. Like, if you’re looking at the top five in the division, Beneil Dariush is probably the most unknown guy, but in my opinion the most underrated guy.”

It’s highly unlikely Dariush would be open to fighting Hooker at this stage. However, Ferguson vs. Hooker? That definitely makes sense at this point.