Khabib Nurmagomedov isn’t a fighter who lives with regrets.
As a lot as he achieved on his method to retiring because the undefeated, undisputed UFC light-weight champion with an ideal 29-0 report, there have been all the time fights Nurmagomedov wished that simply didn’t occur. Maybe the title on the prime of that checklist is former UFC welterweight king George St-Pierre, who was all the time somebody Nurmagomedov admired and regarded a official problem.
The title that most likely comes up essentially the most, nonetheless, is Tony Ferguson as a result of he was scheduled to face Nurmagomedov a complete 5 occasions whereas each had been competing close to the highest of the light-weight division. Whereas there’s part of Nurmagomedov that needs he acquired the prospect to face Ferguson, he additionally thought of that battle a mismatch in his favor, so it doesn’t carry the identical weight with him that it does with followers.
“I really feel slightly bit unhappy, however on the similar time, I all the time perceive my recreation it’s the worst for him,” Nurmagomedov informed the Encourage Me podcast. “He don’t have wrestling. He don’t have grappling. What’s he going to do with me? How is he going to cease me? Solely probability how he can cease me, it was solely a fortunate punch.
“Like with all people, like with Conor [McGregor], with [Dustin] Poirier, with Justin Gaethje, all people talks about, ‘Oh, they will cease him if Khabib [going to get caught with] a fortunate punch.’ However different stuff, how’s he going to cease me?”
Whereas Ferguson was positively essentially the most achieved 155-pound contender that he by no means fought, Nurmagomedov all the time felt assured he would deal with that problem like the entire others in his profession.
Nurmagomedov solely misplaced a few rounds all through his whole UFC run and he simply doesn’t consider Ferguson had the weapons to beat him.
“When he fought with Danny Castllo, [Beneil] Dariush, Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, all these guys mauled him,” Nurmagomedov stated. “He didn’t have wrestling protection. He didn’t have good grappling. My preventing recreation, it was the worst for him.”
It’s wildly uncommon for any battle to get booked 5 occasions and by no means really occur, however Nurmagomedov is aware of he and Ferguson each wield some duty for these cancellations.
That’s another excuse why Nurmagomedov can’t look again with remorse, as a result of in the end it simply wasn’t meant to be in terms of this explicit rivalry.
“I’m slightly bit unhappy, however what can we do?” Nurmagomedov stated. “If God has some plan, no person can change this. We had been imagined to battle 5 occasions. He pulled out, I’ve accidents, this isn’t below my management.
“I really feel slightly bit unhappy, however on the similar time, [I] confirmed who had what stage.”
Whereas Nurmagomedov retired after his third title protection in 2020, Ferguson remained lively however has fallen on tougher occasions of late. He’s now suffered eight consecutive losses in a row, and all indicators level towards his time with UFC coming to an finish.
Ferguson has hinted that he plans to proceed preventing exterior UFC, however his struggles didn’t cease him from firing again at Nurmagomedov’s suggestion that his solely hope in that potential matchup was a fortunate punch.
“Fortunate punch now … [I] was going to go away you alone however ew,” Ferguson wrote on Instagram. “Simply couldn’t assist it. Ya [fat f*ck]. What a f*cking p*ssy, coward like hen. Preserve hiding Khabieber 29-1.
“Till additional discover, let ol’ fathead know what time it’s crew.”
