Undefeated UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov shocked the world on Oct. 6. The Dagesten native dominated UFC megastar Conor McGregor, earning a submission victory over the fighter within the fourth round.
Since then, fight fans have been waiting to hear what’s next for the reigning, 27-0 title holder. Well, UFC President Dana White does not think it has to be a rematch against “Notorious.”
Speaking to ESPN, Dana White revealed that he has yet to consider a rematch between Nurmagomedov and McGregor. Rather, White believes Tony Ferguson would be a great next opponent for “The Eagle.”
“I haven’t even thought about a [McGregor] rematch. Obviously, I know Conor wants a rematch. We need to do what’s right and what’s fair. We’ll see how it plays out. We literally haven’t thought about it yet.
“… As a fight fan, you’ve got to go with Tony. Tony had the belt, tweaked his knee, got stripped, this fight happens — Tony never lost the [interim] belt in a fight. Neither did Conor, but Conor got the opportunity to actually fight [Nurmagomedov]. I think Tony deserves the next shot.”
Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov have a heated past within the sport. Having been scheduled to fight on four different occasions, injuries and bad weight cuts have kept the two fighters from ever having met inside the octagon.
Most recently, Ferguson was stripped of his interim UFC lightweight title after being injured ahead of his fight against Nurmagomedov back at UFC 223. Of course, the fight consequently never made it to the octagon.
Ferugson did, however, earn a stunning TKO victory over former champion Anthony Pettis in the co-main event of UFC 229. Now it would appear that the UFC president is ready to try for a fifth time at getting Fergusona and Nurmagomedov inside the octagon.
