If we had a bingo card for 2022, Tony Ferguson challenging Khabib Nurmagomedov to a season of The Ultimate Fighter would not be on the card. Would we watch it, though? Hell yes.
Tony’s challenge
On Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour, Ferguson issued a challenge to his longtime rival to squash the beef without Nurmagomedov coming out of retirement – coaching against each other on TUF.
“I believe that when his dad [Khabib’s] said we were supposed to compete, I believe that. I would love to be able to coach against him in The Ultimate Fighter, how about that? Best man wins on the team. I guarantee my coaching is a lot better than yours, Khabib,” Ferguson said. “Not a lot of people understand that. I don’t have to break anyone’s rib for that sh*t. My coaching goes a long way and I can build my team. I built a team for a 12-fight win streak, and I can definitely build a team again to be able to go and beat that son of a bi*ch.”
“I have nothing personal against him, besides him running away from [our fight] during the pandemic hit and being a scared little dude, but I gotta respect that family is first…Regardless if it’s basketball – a pickup basketball game or wrestle ball…jiu-jitsu, or soccer, it doesn’t matter what game we play. It would be cool to go out there, shake the dude’s hand, squash some beef, and then move on.”
.@TonyFergusonXT has a proposal for how to "squash some beef" with Khabib: Coach against each other on The Ultimate Fighter 🍿 #TheMMAHour
“When his dad said we were supposed to compete, I believe that."
▶️ https://t.co/aSnPM05yOs pic.twitter.com/EKvgXw14kd
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) May 16, 2022
Khabib’s response
The following day, Nurmagomedov would respond to Ferguson’s challenge. He accepted, but he said if it didn’t happen, he could compete in Eagle FC.
“Tony I like the idea about TUF, call your bosses and let them make an offer, but if they don’t have ideas, I myself will offer you a deal on the @EagleFightClubplatform, we doing some business here you know,” Nurmagomedov wrote.
Tony I like the idea about TUF, call your bosses and let them make an offer, but if they don’t have ideas, I myself will offer you a deal on the @EagleFightClub platform, we doing some business here you know.
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) May 17, 2022
Ferguson responded a short time after in his infamous El Cucuy lingo.
“We’re Private Contractors Fathead Remember? We Can Smell Ya From All The Way Over Here Lay Of The Sweets Meat Head. Now You Work For Me, BTW You Still Owe Me 200K & 20 Push-Up For The Homeless Keep Runnin’ It’s TiramisuTuesday- Champ -CSO- ‘Merica MF,” Ferguson wrote.
We’re Private Contractors Fathead Remember? We Can Smell Ya 🍮🍮 From All The Way Over Here 🦨 Lay Of The Sweets Meat Head. Now🫵😎You Work For Me, BTW You Still Owe Me 200K & 20 Push-Up For The Homeless 🔱 Keep Runnin’ It’s Tiramisu🥇Tuesday- Champ 🖕😎 -CSO- 🇺🇸🏆🇲🇽 ‘Merica MF pic.twitter.com/LS9WK4rI12
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) May 17, 2022
Just when you thought it was going one way, ‘El Cucuy’ does his thing.
Ferguson is coming off his first knockout loss at UFC 274, while Nurmagomedov has his third Eagle FC USA show this Friday.
