In the modern era of the lightweight division in the UFC, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson have been on a collision course since 2015. However, almost five years later, the two have yet to be in the octagon together at the same time. So, after five failed attempts, who should be next for Ferguson?
The Nurmagomedov Fight Still Makes Logical Sense
Despite years of trying, UFC spectators around the globe have yet to witness the highly-anticipated lightweight fight between the reigning champion and the current number-one contender. At the time of writing, the bout has been booked and canceled on five separate occasions for numerous different reasons, including ligament injuries and issues with weight management. Fundamentally, when feasible, the fight between the undefeated champion and El Cucuy, who holds the record for the most consecutive wins at lightweight, needs to happen, with many now hoping that the sixth attempt will prove to be the one that ultimately sees the two compete in the octagon.
While there are other options available to Ferguson, most notably Justin Gaethje, it perhaps makes the most sense for the California-born athlete to sit tight and wait for Nurmagomedov. The 36-year-old American last suffered a defeat in the octagon back in May 2012 when he lost to Michael Johnson in a unanimous decision. Since then, El Cucuy has beaten some of the organization’s most well-known names in the division, including Anthony Pettis, Edson Barboza, and Rafael Dos Anjos. Moreover, and perhaps most impressively, the former interim champion has finished each of his last three fights.
The Temptation of Gaethje and the McGregor Money Fight
Logically, there can be no doubts that Ferguson rightfully deserves his shot at the lightweight championship, even if that takes six attempts before the contest with Nurmagomedov comes to fruition. However, other intriguing options may appeal to the title-chasing Californian. From a competitive standpoint, the 36-year-old may seek to move his previously-booked UFC 249 replacement fight with Gaethje to another date in the coming months.
After it was announced that Nurmagomedov was unable to defend his title against Ferguson at UFC 249 for unprecedented reasons, the organization moved quickly to bring in Gaethje to compete with Ferguson for the interim title in the main event. Although the event was canceled just days after the fight card was put together, bettors would have been able to get favorable odds on both fighters across a wide array of different MMA betting types, including method of victory, moneyline, and parlay bets at many of the best MMA betting sites. That said, despite the cancellation, El Cucuy’s acceptance to fight the former WSOF lightweight champion did result in widespread excitement throughout the MMA community.
Much like Nurmagomedov, Gaethje is a dangerous option for Ferguson, but for very different reasons. Despite being a high-level wrestler like the Dagestan-born fighter, the 31-year-old American also possesses undeniable knockout power. In each of his last three contests, The Highlight has secured three first-round finishes against Barboza, Donald Cerrone, and James Vick. In turn, this makes a possible bout with Ferguson even more intriguing, with each competitor always seeking to take the decision out of the judges’ hands.
That said, there is one other potential option that may be of interest to Ferguson. Despite moving up to welterweight for his last outing, the former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor, is seemingly targeting a route back to Nurmagomedov’s belt at 155 pounds. Over the last few years, both he and El Cucuy have teased the idea of a facing off against each other in the cage, with the Irishman expressing his willingness to step in to compete at UFC 249 if either competitor pulled out. As always, but perhaps even more so now having emphatically won his last bout at welterweight, McGregor has several options in front of him, which could delay any potential match-up with Ferguson.
The Title is the Pinnacle, but There are Intriguing Alternatives
Ultimately, having worked tirelessly to get into a position to fight for the UFC lightweight title, it’s unlikely that Ferguson will switch his attentions elsewhere for the time being. That said, if Nurmagomedov is unable to fight over the coming months, then an interim contest against either Gaethje or McGregor may be a possibility.