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.
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