Khabib Nurmagomedov (L) faces off against Tony Ferguson (R) during a press conference (Digital Trends)
Khabib Nurmagomedov is set to face Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 but the clash might be called off
Chael Sonnen believes Khabib Nurmagomedov could call off his fight against Tony Ferguson ahead of UFC 249, but he won’t.
The coronavirus pandemic has caused havoc all around and Khabib has been spotted in Russia. There are travel bans across Europe too, and Dana White has been adamant that UFC 249 will go ahead.
Fighting during these times is dangerous already, but Sonnen went on to explain why Khabib isn’t going to cancel the clash:
“He’s doing it because he has an integrity to the sport.”
Sonnen added that going into any sport, there is a time when you could be selfish regarding certain moves. However, Khabib wasn’t like that since he wants to be a great:
“The greats will always ask a different question ‘what is best for sport whatever is best for the sport is what I do’
“He is staying in this fight without blinking or flinching or offering in an excuse because he has a respect for what Tony Ferguson went through.”
The former UFC star also claimed that more needs to be told about the story between Khabib and Ferguson.
Sonnen added why Khabib was still fighting and it wasn’t for the money:
“Khabib doesn’t need any more money. Khabib has never been fighting for money.
“Remember the Commission took his money and he told him keep the money but it wasn’t a joke.
The former UFC star spoke about Khabib’s unbeaten UFC record and also the fact that he lost just one round in his career.
However, keeping the belt seems to be most important for the Russian:
“He has one job, one responsibility to himself and to his team, it’s not to beat Tony Ferguson.
“His one and only thing he has to do is keep that belt.”
Khabib and Ferguson is one of the biggest rivalries we have never seen in the Octagon. However, the fight has been cancelled four times in the past due to injuries.
Hopefully, we get to see the clash on 18 April, however, the safety of all stakeholders is more important than this fight going ahead.
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