Fifth time lucky.
They have tried to line up Khabib Nurmagomedov versus Tony Ferguson on four previous occasions. On four previous occasions, the fight has failed to materialise. ‘Khabib Ferguson’ has been in the ether for four years now.
Through a mix of injuries, weight cut misses, injuries and misplaced video cables in dark TV studios, Nurmagomedov and Ferguson have never been locked into The Octagon.
Despite being two of the finest lightweights in the promotion for the past decade, fans have been denied the chance to final settle who has the best style and the best game to be top dog.
All that is (hopefully) set to chance next April and we want you all crossing your fingers and toes as this UFC title fight gets closers and closer. Multiple outlets – sparked by an initial ESPN story – are reporting that the UFC have slated in Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson for April 18 in Brooklyn.
This is the fight that MMA fans have been craving for years – the undefeated UFC lightweight champion Nurmagomedov [28-0] going up against the clear No.1 contender of the 155lbs division. Ferguson is on a 12-fight winning streak in the division and has scalped the likes of Donald Cerrone, Anthony Pettis, Kevin Lee and Rafael Dos Anjos in recent years.
One of the most interesting aspects of this title fight is that it will take place at the same venue where, in April 2018, Nurmagomedov claimed 155lbs gold for the first time. From the moment ‘The Eagle’ and fellow challenger Al Iaquinta made weight – and the fight at The Barclays Center was on – Conor McGregor was stripped of the lightweight title he had won in November 2016.
Nurmagomedov was a unanimous points winner on the night and has since defended his belt by beating McGregor and, earlier this year, Dustin Poirier.
The Barclays Cemter was also the scene of the infamous attack on Nurmagomedov’s bus – after a UFC 223 media day – that was carried out by McGregor and his SBG teammate Cian Cowley.
Credit: Anatomy of a Fighter‘The Notorious’ used a hand trolley to smash the window of a bus carrying Nurmagomedov, Mike Chiesa, Rose Namajunas, Ray Borg and several others. He was later charged for the incident, apologised and was hit with a public order offence.
McGregor will be hoping to push himself into that No.1 contender picture, in January, with a comeback fight in the UFC. He is set to face Donald Cerrone in Las Vegas but Justin Gaethje has been another fighter linked to the bout.
