According to UFC President Dana White, former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson turned down the opportunity to fight Max Holloway at UFC 236.

As a result, the UFC swiftly booked Max Holloway to rematch Dustin Poirier for the promotions interim lightweight title at UFC 236 in Atlanta.

Poirier and Holloway first met at featherweight back in 2012, with “The Diamond” emerging victorious by way of submission.

Meanwhile, Tony Ferguson has made it clear that he is no longer interested in fighting for interim gold. “El Cucuy” wants to hold the title of undisputed UFC champion, and rightfully so.

Unfortunately for fight fans hoping to see Ferguson challenge current champ Khabib Nurmagomedov later this year, UFC President Dana White recently revealed to reporters that Tony has missed that chance.

“I don’t know. I say all the time that when there is an opportunity take it.” said Dana White at today’s UFC 236 press conference. “Everybody who is sitting up here today is proof of that. Take the opportunities and you get the shot. I don’t know where this leaves Tony. Tony didn’t want the fight. It’s the fight I wanted. I mean we even tried to make a fight with both of these two (Holloway and Poirier) and he didn’t want it. You can’t make anybody fight man. If he doesn’t want it, he doesn’t want it. We offered, he declined and so we move on.”

Dana White would later confirm that the winner of April’s interim lightweight title fight between Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier will be the next man to challenge Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Definitely not the news Tony Ferguson fans were hoping to hear.

Later, when questioned about a potential lightweight bout between Conor McGregor and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone being booked for UFC 239, Dana White quickly shutdown the rumors and added that Cerrone will likely have to fight someone else first.

Who do you think should be next for Tony Ferguson? Sound off in the comments section PENN Nation!