Khabib Nurmagomedov brands Tony Ferguson as ‘not smart to do business’ after superstar continues to take on ‘hungry lion’ fighters
After presenting Ultimate Fighter coaching, Khabib Nurmagomedov addressed Tony Ferguson and declared that he is not clever enough to conduct business.
Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from MMA in March of 2021 (Image via Imago)
Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov are both notable MMA fighters. They share a history of attempted matchups in the UFC that never came to fruition. Khabib and Ferguson were scheduled to fight each other in the UFC on multiple occasions. Each time generated significant anticipation among fans. Unfortunately, these scheduled fights never materialized due to various reasons. These included multiple injuries on the side of Khabib Nurmagomedov and also other factors.
A video has surfaced on the internet where Khabib is seen addressing Tony Ferguson. He recalled the time when Khabib urged Tony to come over and coach with him for ESPN’s The Ultimate Fighter. Nurmagomedov argues that it would be better for his career than fighting the younger talents considering that Ferguson is nearing his 40s. “…he’s 38, he don’t need to compete with all these young lions…just come with me, make money,… but I don’t think he is smart enough to do business with me,” Khabib said.
Despite numerous attempts, Nurmagomedov and Ferguson never had the opportunity to settle their rivalry inside the octagon. This rivalry became one of the most anticipated matchups in MMA history. Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from mixed martial arts after his victory over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254.
Meanwhile, Tony Ferguson has faced a series of consecutive losses in his career. He has experienced a notable losing streak of six consecutive losses. These losses have impacted Ferguson’s once-stellar record and have raised questions about his future in the sport. He has an upcoming fight against Paddy Pimblett at UFC 296. Fans are eagerly looking forward to that matchup.
Will Khabib Nurmagomedov ever return to the UFC?
Khabib Nurmagomedov ended his career undefeated with a stellar record of 29 wins and 0 losses. He also bagged a place in the UFC Hall of Fame, forever cementing his legacy in the world of MMA. Khabib retired not out of necessity but due to a promise he made to his mother while fighting in the UFC. After Khabib’s father died due to COVID complications, the Dagestani icon announced his retirement. He refused to fight in the octagon without his father by his side.
In a recent interview, Khabib’s cousin and Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov revealed Khabib’s intention to make a comeback. He said: “I miss him a lot to be honest. I text him everyday, like ‘Hey, when you come back?’ He tells me, ‘Hey, leave me alone’.”
Usman iterated that Khabib Nurmagomedov is a man of his worth and his decision is resolute. He said that he wouldn’t even expect him to return to the UFC as a coach. “…when he tell something, he always follow his word. I don’t think he’s going to become coach, corner. Even he don’t come to watch fight in arena,” Usman said.
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Neial Nishant Bhuyan
(1679 Articles Published)