Khabib Nurmagomedov (L) faces off against Tony Ferguson (R) during a press conference (Digital Trends)
Tony Ferguson addressed the induction of Khabib Nurmagomedov into the UFC Hall of Fame in his own eccentric fashion
No love is lost between Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov! Perhaps the most cursed fight of all time, Tony vs Khabib remains the biggest matchup that fans missed out on. Talks of a series of The Ultimate Fighter with the duo was making the rounds, which even got the nod from UFC President Dana White.
Earlier yesterday, arguably the greatest lightweight of all time, Khabib Nurmagomedov got inducted into the modern wing of UFC Hall of Fame. Appreciation from fans, peers, and MMA reporters poured in for the Dagestani, who impressed everyone with his speech. Khabib reminded everyone of the importance of staying grounded, hard work, dedication, and discipline in life.
Ferguson had been scheduled to face Khabib five times in the past, and the fight fell apart every single time. Speaking to The Schmo, Ferguson addressed Nurmagomedov’s Hall of Fame induction, by issuing a challenge to the Russian.
He said, “Yeah, I’m excited to coach against him. I think I’m a better coach. He’s 29 and 1 as far as I’m concerned. He’s talking sh** to [UFC president] Dana White, ‘Send me location, and go and get this done.’ Dana wants it done, [UFC Chief Business Officer] Hunter [Campbell] wants it done. We know we can get the numbers up for The Ultimate Fighter.”
He added, “It’d be awesome to pay it forward again, go in there, coach, demonstrate that we know what we’re doing, and have some fun, and fk with Khabib a lot, and send him a teddy bear or two with some fking tiramisu.”
UFC’s Youtube channel posted a video recently from their Icons series, which featured none other than the undisputed UFC lightweight legend, former champion, and modern wing Hall of Famer, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Khabib’s legacy in the MMA world is unprecedented, and the respect he commands from his peers is unparalleled.
Although he defended his belt only thrice, which is piffling if we consider the legacy of other champions, the sheer dominance, and the nature of competition he faced is what separates him. He carried an entire nation with him, and put his hometown Dagestan on the map. A remorseless wrestler, a born leader, a conscientious champion, and an absolute genius inside the octagon, Khabib scripted his name into the history books at the very top.
Following his subjugating victory at UFC 254 against a dangerous opponent like Justin Gaethje, the undefeated Dagestani decided to lace his gloves, owing to the devastating loss of his hero, coach, and mentor- his late great father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. As the world looked upon in shock, and emotions ran high, fans took some time to digest the greatness they had witnessed that night inside the octagon.
UFC lightweight fighter Michael Chandler was cage side in attendance, to witness the fight live in action. A few pay-per-view cards later, he would go on to make his UFC debut against Dan Hooker, and knock him out in the first round. In a latest video released by the UFC in their ICON series, Chandler can be seen dumbfounded by the performance. The emotions that Khabib was fighting with that night struck a chord in his heart, and he could not hold tears.
Although he defended his belt only thrice, which is piffling if we consider the legacy of other champions, the sheer dominance, and the nature of competition he faced is what separates him. He carried an entire nation with him, and put his hometown Dagestan on the map. A remorseless wrestler, a born leader, a conscientious champion, and an absolute genius inside the octagon, Khabib scripted his name into the history books at the very top.
Following his subjugating victory at UFC 254 against a dangerous opponent like Justin Gaethje, the undefeated Dagestani decided to lace his gloves, owing to the devastating loss of his hero, coach, and mentor- his late great father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. As the world looked upon in shock, and emotions ran high, fans took some time to digest the greatness they had witnessed that night inside the octagon.
UFC lightweight fighter Michael Chandler was cage side in attendance, to witness the fight live in action. A few pay per view cards later, he would go on to make his UFC debut against Dan Hooker, and knock him out in the first round. In a latest video released by the UFC in their ICON series, Chandler can be seen dumbfounded by the performance. The emotions that Khabib was fighting with on that night struck a chord in his heart, and he could not hold tears.
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