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Tony Ferguson has it cost a chance to win the UFC lightweight title? The champion Khabib Nurmagomedov seems to believe it.
While Nurmagomedov is currently serving a nine – month suspension, the UFC has decided to go ahead with a fight for the provisional title, by announcing a 13 April poster head between UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway and Dustin Poirer at UFC 236 in Atlanta.
UFC President Dana White told ESPN.com that Ferguson had been offered Ferguson to fight Holloway for the interim belt before Poirier, but that "El Cucuy" had refused. This is where Nurmagomedov says that Ferguson made a mistake.
"Tony, you had your chance and you missed it, and it's all your fault," Nurmagomedov wrote in a long message on Instagram. "You know I'm disqualified and I can not fight, but it's not fair to strip me of the title … As a fighter, you deserve a fight for the title, you are (a) an excellent fighter and opponent, but now you have to fight or wait until my suspension is over and you fight.
But Khabib also added this in parentheses: "UFC does not want it."
Earlier this week, Ferguson tweeted that he was offered a fight but was not sure "If it meets our standards." It was probably an opportunity to fight Holloway, who had taken advantage last week, saying it would only be temporary.
Ferguson had previously won an interim title in October 2017 with a bid on Kevin Lee. Ferguson was then stricken from the acting belt after suffering a knee injury just six days before fighting for Nurmagomedov for the undisputed title last April at UFC 223. Nurmagomedov would continue to dominate Al Iaquinta for win the title. He defended him six months later by defeating Conor McGregor at UFC 229, provoking a fight after the fight that resulted in his suspension and the confusion of the title.
On the same night of October at UFC 229, Ferguson returned from a knee reconstruction operation to defeat Anthony Pettis via TKO as part of the "Fighting the Year" program. He has continuously claimed a title for the title since.
Nurmagomedov and Ferguson have faced each other four times, but the fight has failed each time.
You can read Nurmagomedov's entire message to Ferguson below:
See this post on Instagram
I want to remind you that before becoming a champion, I was close to fighting for the title 3 times and every 3 times, I missed my opportunity. First of all, in July 2016, I was offered to participate in the month of Ramadan and I refused it. Secondly, UFC 205 NYC offered me a fight for the title. An agreement was signed, but my title was dropped. The third time was UFC 209 where I was hospitalized and almost died. But after each failure, it was said: you missed your chance, you deserve your shot with an extra win. Tony, you had your chance and you missed it, and it's your fault only. You know I'm disqualified and I can not fight, but it's not fair to undress the title, I fought 3 times in 9 months. I won and defended my belt. As a fighter, you deserve a title fight, you are a great fighter and a great opponent, but now you have to fight or wait for my QD to finish and fight (but the UFC does not want it). I do not understand your mistakes, if you fall, you must get up, not complain. #ufc #mma #ufclightweight
I want to remind you that before becoming a champion, I was close to fighting for the title 3 times and every 3 times, I missed my opportunity. First of all, in July 2016, I was offered to participate in the month of Ramadan and I refused it. Secondly, UFC 205 NYC offered me a fight for the title. An agreement was signed, but my title was dropped.
The third time was UFC 209, where I was hospitalized and almost died.
But after each failure, I have (we said): you missed your chance, win your shot with an extra win.
Tony, you had your chance and you missed it, and it's your fault only. You know I'm disqualified and I can not fight, but it's not fair to strip off the title, I fought 3 times in 9 months. I won and defended my belt.
As a fighter, you deserve a title fight, you are a great fighter and a great opponent, but now you have to fight or wait for my QD to finish and fight (but the UFC does not want it). I do not understand your mistakes, if you fall, you must get up, not complain.
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