K. Nurmagomedov (left) and T. Ferguson (right) had the fight scheduled four times. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook @tonyelcucuyferguson
One of the most anticipated clashes in MMA today may be close to being confirmed by Ultimate. The meeting between Khabib Nurmagomedov e Tony Ferguson it should happen at the beginning of 2020. The information was confirmed by UFC president, Dana White, who stated that negotiations are progressing well. The statement was made in an interview with 'The Schmo'.
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“Nothing is holding this confrontation back. The fight is in the process of being done. It's obviously the next fight to be made. That’s why it’s going to happen”, informed the boss.
When asked if the fight would take place in the first half of 2020, the president simply said 'yes', with an emphatic tone.
If confirmed, the battle will mark the meeting of two of the greatest mixed martial arts athletes today. Khabib will put his belt and undisputed unbeaten career record on the line. Tony, in turn, will try to win, for the first time, the linear belt in the category and increase the number of fights without defeat to 13.
For many experts in the sport, Ferguson is currently the only athlete capable of interrupting the Russian's hegemony in the sport. With a predictable but efficient style, the 'Eagle' has, fight after fight, proven that he is worthy of being considered one of the best athletes of all time.
In his last engagement, Nurmagomedov beat the former interim champion, Dustin poirier, in a fight that represented the unification of the category title, in the UFC 242, in September, in Abu Dhabi. After the confrontation against the North American, the Russian confirmed that his next opponent should be Tony, against whom he has already had the opportunity to fight four times, but, in all situations, there was cancellation due to injuries, twice of one, and the others from the other.
Ferguson, who was away from the Octagon for eight months after dealing with injuries and personal problems, returned to fighting when he faced his compatriot Donald Cerrone, in one of the fights of UFC 238, in June. Tony asserted his favoritism and ended up beating 'Cowboy' by technical knockout after a medical interruption. In the incident, Cerrone's right eye closed completely after successive blows, which made it impossible for the battle to continue.
Khabib has already openly declared that he intends to have two more fights in his career as a professional athlete. The Russian, if he fulfills his promise, will be following the advice of his father, who is his coach and mentor in the sport.
Currently, Nurmagomedov, 31 years old, has 28 fights and won them all.
Ferguson, 35, has the same number of disputes as his rival. However, the North American has won 25 victories and has three negative results. His last setback came in May 2012, when he was beaten by Michael Johnson.
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