The lightweight title picture is focusing in on the top two ranked lightweights all aiming for that shot at newly crowned UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor.
UFC President Dana White has stated that “The Notorious” is taking 10 months off from fighting for the birth of his first child, which is due in the summer of 2017. This leaves more than enough time for #1 UFC ranked lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov and #2 ranked lightweight Tony Ferguson to finally settle their differences inside of the Octagon.
On Monday, “The Eagle” tweeted, “Hello chicken @TonyFergusonXT all this gangster talk but why you no want to sign the contract? It’s ok I kill u fast @danawhite @seanshelby.”
Hello chicken @TonyFergusonXT all this gangster talk but why you no want to sign the contract? It's ok I kill u fast @danawhite @seanshelby
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) December 12, 2016
Tony Ferguson didn’t take long to respond and threw in Conor McGregor into the mix as well. Ferguson posted an interesting collage of photos with himself posing with both McGregor and Nurmagomdeov during some friendlier times they have had in the past.
Ferguson tweeted, “Not 1 Is More Deserving Of An Ass Whoopin’ Than The Other • My #SnapDownCity 12 Down 2 To Go… #Road2Gold @TheNotoriousMMA @TeamKhabib.”
Not 1 Is More Deserving Of An Ass Whoopin' Than The Other • My #SnapDownCity 12 Down 2 To Go… #Road2Gold @TheNotoriousMMA @TeamKhabib pic.twitter.com/hJDtiI7eP4
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) December 12, 2016
Khabib Nurmagomedov holds an undefeated record of 24-0 and has shown his superior grappling skills in all of his eight UFC fights since first fighting for the organization back in 2012. Nurmagomedov last fought Michael Johnson at UFC 205 in New York in November and finished the fight in the third round by submission.
Tony Ferguson holds a professional MMA record of 22-3 with his last and single loss in the UFC handed to him by Michael Johnson back at UFC on FOX 3 back in 2012. “El Cucuy” has stacked up 9 wins in a row since the loss to Johnson. In his last competition, Ferguson beat former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos by unanimous decision in the five-round main event of UFC Fight Night 98 in November.
What are your thoughts on a title eliminator matchup between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson? Give us your prediction in the comment section for the potential bout and let us know how and when you see the fight ending!