Khabib Nurmagomedov Reflects on Unfought Rivalry with Tony Ferguson

Khabib’s Strategic Dominance

Khabib Nurmagomedov, known for his relentless wrestling and suffocating ground game, expressed a sense of regret mixed with unwavering confidence when discussing his would-be opponent, Tony Ferguson. He stated, „I feel a little sad, but at the same time, I always understood that my game is worse for him.“ Nurmagomedov elaborated on this, pointing out Ferguson’s perceived weaknesses in crucial areas. „He doesn’t have wrestling. He doesn’t have grappling. What would he do with me? How would he stop me?“ The former lightweight champion firmly believes that Ferguson’s path to victory was incredibly narrow, relying solely on a „lucky punch,“ a narrative he’s seen play out against other top contenders. This perspective highlights Khabib’s absolute trust in his own skill set to neutralize any perceived threat.

The Limited Options for „El Cucuy“

Nurmagomedov’s assessment of Ferguson’s chances hinges on the latter’s stylistic matchup against his own dominant approach. He argues that Ferguson’s offensive arsenal, while formidable against many, lacked the fundamental tools to counter Khabib’s pressure. „The only chance he had was to hit me with a lucky punch, like everybody else,“ Nurmagomedov explained, referencing the fates of notable opponents like Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje. He continued by contrasting Ferguson’s struggles against other elite wrestlers and grapplers with his own purported advantage. „When he fought Danny Castillo, Beneil Dariush, Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, all these guys tortured him. He didn’t have defense in wrestling. He didn’t have good grappling. My fight game was worse for him.“ This suggests that Khabib’s overwhelming wrestling and control would have stifled Ferguson’s creative striking and submission attempts.

Diverging Paths and a Lingering Question

The constant cancellations of the Khabib-Ferguson bout, particularly the final one for UFC 249 due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, ultimately saw their careers take dramatically different trajectories. Ferguson’s incredible 12-fight win streak came to a definitive end against Justin Gaethje, and since then, he has faced a difficult period, enduring a significant losing streak. Conversely, Nurmagomedov competed only once more, submitting Justin Gaethje to defend his lightweight title at UFC 254 before announcing his retirement from the sport. „I feel a little sad, but time has shown who has what level,“ Nurmagomedov remarked, implying that the passage of time and their subsequent performances have validated his belief about their contrasting abilities. While the dream fight remains a tantalizing „what if,“ Khabib’s perspective offers a clear insight into why he felt he held all the cards.