UFC 223, the biggest MMA contest of the year, is approaching quickly and it’s worth getting excited about. This will be the fourth time we’ve looked forward to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s fight with Tony Ferguson.
UFC 223 is set to take place in Brooklyn on April 7 live on pay-per-view (PPV), to witness two of the top lightweight in the world clash for the full 155-pound title when Tony Ferguson squares off with Khabib Nurmagomedov. The winner apparently will become the undisputed 155-pound champ – which means current champ Conor McGregor will be stripped of his belt once someone gets his hand raised.
Tony Ferguson currently holds a 10-fight win streak, which includes a recent submission victory over Kevin Lee to claim the interim title, while Nurmagomedov currently holds one of the longest undefeated streaks in MMA with 25 wins. (Quotes via MMAMania)
“Only four weeks before fight, tough opponent, real belt on the line,” Nurmagomedov said in a recent interview with Kevin Iole. “Ten win streak versus nine win streak. UFC never make this fight. 25 years UFC history, they never make fight like this fight. This is high level fight. This is going to be very good for fans, for guy who gonna take this belt, UFC gonna make money. Everyone gonna be happy because this fight very high level fight and this fight most important fight in UFC today.”
The undefeated Russian added that he believes the UFC will strip Conor McGregor of his title. It only makes sense, especially considering “Notorious” hasn’t fought in the Octagon since winning a lightweight title and doesn’t plan on returning to action until later this year. khabib believes this is the biggest showdown that he has been waiting for.
“First of all it’s about real belt, this is not interim championship, this is not Tony Ferguson belt, this is not Conor McGregor belt, this is real belt,” said Nurmagomedov. “I’m not going to fight Tony Ferguson fake belt. I’m not going to fight Conor McGregor belt when he win this fight almost three years ago. I’m going to fight real belt and this is big motivation. Five round, big fight. We are supposed to fight three times now.”
“I’m going to make this fight easy,” Nurmagomedov continued. “People gonna talk about this fight, ‘Wow, nobody do this before with Tony Ferguson.’ Like I do with Michael Johnson, like I do Rafael dos Anos, like I do with Edson Barboza, with everybody. Who beat them like this? I’m gonna do this again with Tony Ferguson.”
If Khabib Nurmagomedov manages to pull an upset against Tony Ferguson, arguably he will make a case that he’s the greatest lightweight of all time. With a win, Khabib could line up a gigantic fight opposite McGregor in the second half of 2018.
Do you think Khabib Nurmagomedov can snap a Tony Ferguson’s 10-fight win streak?
