Why Ferguson is worthy to fight with Nurmagomedov
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdel-Aziz said that his client has signed a contract to conduct a fight with Tony Ferguson.
For several years, it was Tony Ferguson who was considered one of the most sophisticated and skilled lightweight fighters. He invariably belonged to the elite of the category and for the last two years not only was on the first line of the rating, but also owned a temporary champion belt. True, this did not help him get a fight for the absolute title, since he was injured.
Nevertheless, at the moment, Ferguson is almost no alternative contender for the belt. Since 2013, he won 12 victories, having dealt with almost all the strong lightweights of the planet. So, among his “victims” are former champions Anthony Pettis and Rafael dos Angos, two-time ex-first challenger Donald Cerrone, as well as Kevin Lee and Edson Barbosa.
None of the candidates for the title of first challenger can be compared with him both in the length of the winning streak and in the level of opposition. So, until recently, Conor McGregor and Justin Gatgi were featured as trophy seekers. But the first has not won since 2016, and the second, although in excellent shape, is much inferior to Ferguson in terms of achievements.
Why is this battle one of the most anticipated in 2020?
At the moment, only one representative of lightweight can boast the same series of victories as Tony. He is the current champion, who has never been inferior either to the UFC in particular, or to MMA in general. In light of this, the confrontation between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson can be safely called one of the most high-profile next year. In the history of the Absolute Fighting Championship in the octagon, two athletes did not intersect in the last 12 fights under the auspices of the largest MMA promotion.
Nevertheless, there were cases when fighters approached the duel with longer win-win series, but not all victories were won in battles under the auspices of the UFC. So, at the time of the UFC 194 tournament, Conor McGregor had 15 battles won in a row, and his counterpart Jose Aldo - 18. The battle between Jones and Cormier is also worth mentioning. At that time, the champion was not inferior for 11 fights, and the first challenger - 15. It is worth noting that Jones' only failure was the result of disqualification and is considered one of the most unfair decisions in the UFC.
However, in 2020, the battle between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson has virtually no competitors in terms of the level of hype. At least among those that have already been assigned or are in development. In the future, the competition could be a superboy between John Jones and Israel Adesanya, but for now, athletes prefer to share barbs on social networks, rather than negotiate.
Why the UFC took the risk for the fifth time to try to organize this fight
Nevertheless, a year and a half ago it was difficult to imagine that Dana White would once again decide to think about holding this fight. By that time, the matchmakers had tried four times to arrange a meeting between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson, but each time they were pursued by evil rock. At the decisive moment, one of the fighters was injured, as a result of which the fight became impossible.
It is noteworthy that each of them was twice guilty of postponing the fight. Habib was prevented by a broken rib and health problems as a result of weight loss, while Tony was prevented by lung problems and a knee injury. Moreover, it was the American who withdrew from the UFC 223 tournament and thereby opened the way for the title vis-a-vis. Ferguson's place was taken by the 11th ranking number of Al Yakvint, who failed to compete with Nurmagomedov.
In the end, White said that he would never begin organizing a duel between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson, but was forced to take his words back. As mentioned above, this fight is not only logical, but also ardently expected in the UFC world, which guarantees the promotion serious profit and attention of the audience.
Can Ferguson be called Nurmagomedov’s most dangerous rival
Of course, the battle with the American can be safely regarded as the most difficult test in the career of the current champion. Until now, Nurmagomedov has not met such a versatile athlete, who is equally well versed in both shock technique and skills in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Largely because of the latter, he is considered, if not a sentence, then at least a serious danger to Khabib.
Ferguson is highly unpredictable, which is manifested both in his swift attacks from various angles, and in unexpected painful tricks. He feels great on his back, which none of Nurmagomedov’s previous opponents could boast of. It is enough to recall his victory over Kevin Lee, who gape in the “guard” for a split second (the position in the stalls, in which both legs of the lying fighter remain free).
Previously, only two opponents opposed Nurmagomedov, able to compare with Ferguson in terms of skill in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. But if he experienced serious difficulties with Tibau, then with dos Anjos quite easily figured out. The reason for this difference could be both the physical strength of Gleyson and the lack of experience of Habib. For almost two years, he made tremendous progress and therefore so confidently dealt with the future lightweight champion.
As for the shock technique, in this component Ferguson can hardly be called the most masterful of the opponents of Nurmagomedov. In this component, it is inferior to at least McGregor, and possibly also Barbose. Nevertheless, Tony has always been famous not for a knockout blow, but for the ability to make multi-pass combinations, which can help him catch the champion by surprise.
Why a fight with Ferguson is better than a boxing match with Mayweather
The long-awaited fight with the first rating number will answer the question of whether Nurmagomedov is a full-fledged UFC lightweight champion or all of his merits are due to a successful combination of circumstances. So, to date, not a single fighter has become a champion in the battle with the 11th rating number, after which he defended the title against an opponent who had not been in the cage for two years. In this regard, some fans and experts still do not consider the Russian to be the full owner of the belt, which negatively affects his legacy.
The victory over Tony will not only silence the critics, but also strengthen Habib in the status of one of the greatest representatives of lightweight. He will have three successful title defenses, which is a repeat of the record in this category. So far, only BJ Penn, Frankie Edgar and Ben Henderson have defended the honorary title three times.
But if a legacy is at stake in the battle with Ferguson, then in a duel with Mayweather there is a huge fee and popularity. Undoubtedly, success can elevate Nurmagomedov to the status of a superstar and make him the most discussed figure in sports, but in the professional plan he is unlikely to earn such dividends. In fact, even a victory will not make him the greatest fighter in history, because he will be doomed to comparison with a triumph over the frustrated MacGregor. In the meantime, defeat can break him psychologically.
Who will earn more for the fight
There can be no doubt about this issue. The highest paid fighter of the upcoming tournament is guaranteed to be Nurmagomedov. The reason is not only in the championship belt, but also the huge popularity of the Russian. Over the past year, he has become one of the main stars of MMA, as evidenced by both the number of his subscribers on social networks and the publication on the cover of Forbes magazine.
According to American media reports, Habib earned about $ 6 million for the fight with Dustin Porrier, which is more than ten times the record fee in Ferguson’s career. For the victory over Lee, he received $ 530 thousand, and only $ 250 thousand were guaranteed.
Will Nurmagomedov become the first number P4 P if successful
Given the excitement, Nurmagomedov has every reason to count on the title of the best UFC fighter, regardless of weight categories. Many expected him to reach the top after defeating Porrier, but then the promotion management decided to postpone this event.
It is worth recognizing that the Absolute Fighting Championship had every reason to leave Habib in second place. The rating is headed by the same Jones, whose assets include a record series of 16 consecutive wins, with 12 of them in fights for the title. With all due respect to the Russian, for him such an indicator is an unattainable height, given the fact that in the near future he intends to end his career.
Thus, the UFC can follow the lead of the multimillion-dollar army of Nurmagomedov’s fans and put him first in the Pound-for-Pound (P4P) ranking, but this decision can hardly be called justified. Only the Dominic Reyes, who will face off against Jones in February, can help the Russian get to the top.
Why is the battle logical in Brooklyn
Over the past few months, Habib talked about the desire to fight in his native country, and called the Gazprom Arena in St. Petersburg as a possible venue for the battle. Nevertheless, Dana White decided to hold off with a major tournament in Russia, once again showing honor to Brooklyn. So, New York will host a paid UFC tournament for the second time in three years, and again with the participation of Nurmagomedov.
At the same time, for Nurmagomedov, the previous show was remembered not only by winning the title, but also by the conflict with McGregor. It was in the parking lot of the Barclays Arena that one of the darkest events in the history of the Absolute Fighting Championship took place, when the Irishman and his friends attacked the bus in which the Russian was with his colleagues. As a result, several glasses were broken in the vehicle, and a number of athletes were injured.
Nevertheless, holding a tournament in Brooklyn can be called logical. Firstly, due to Nurmagomedov’s reluctance to fight in Las Vegas, it was New York State that remained the only possible place in the USA for such a large-scale show. Secondly, it was here that the championship fight between Habib and Tony was supposed to take place, and the UFC loves beautiful stories. Thirdly, many Russians live in this place, as a result of which the champion will be guaranteed serious support.
Can Nurmagomedov finish his career after this fight
Given the recent statements by the Russian, this seems unlikely. Khabib and his father Abdulmanap have repeatedly stated that the fighter intends to enter the cage at least twice before hanging gloves on a nail. Based on this logic, the battle with Ferguson will be the penultimate in the career of Nurmagomedov, and the anniversary, the 30th victory should put the final point.
So, Nurmagomedov can crack down on Ferguson, and then arrange the loudest revenge in the history of MMA. The return match with McGregor at the Gazprom Arena will be the crown of his career and will help not only become one of the most famous athletes on the planet, but will also increase interest in this discipline in the country. After that, he will be able to calmly leave the sport and not think not only about welfare, but also about heritage.
Nevertheless, in the event of a defeat, the Russian plans may change. Nurmagomedov is a favorite of the upcoming battle, but mixed martial arts are not in vain considered one of the most unpredictable sports. Failure can both make Khabib catch on the idea of taking revenge, and unsettle him. In this case, the battle with Ferguson may well draw a line under his performances in the cage.