UFC: Mendez Doesn’t Want Khabib vs Ferguson Booked A Sixth Time
Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson have been booked to fight five times, and every single time the bout has fallen apart. And if it were up to ‘The Eagle’s’ coach Javier Mendez, it won’t be booked for a sixth time.
Unprecedented Accidents
For several years, Khabib vs Ferguson was the fight the UFC lightweight division needed. But after the fight has been botched due to failed weight cuts, injuries sustained during fight week, and a global pandemic, the once most eagerly anticipated fight in UFC history, looks like it may never happen now.
After the booking’s most recent failure, Ferguson would lose an interim title fight against Justin Gaethje at UFC 249. Which also put into question if Ferguson will ever get another opportunity at UFC gold.
Speaking to ESPN (transcribed by The Body Lock), Mendez stated that he hopes we don’t see Khabib vs Ferguson booked again.
“Due to the fact that every time we’re supposed to fight Tony, look what happens. This time around, the pandemic,” Mendez said. “Not that Tony created it but I’m just saying — five times, five misses? And I am kind of a little superstitious. So do I want to see a sixth fight? Not really.
“But hey, if Tony gets a win and the UFC puts Tony against Khabib next if we’re successful with Justin, yeah. I mean you got to fight him. If the UFC says that’s who your next opponent is, then you have to fight him. And Tony would have deserved that. That’s how I feel about that.”
Ferguson’s Last Shot
Many fight fans around the world are still clinging to the hope that the fight between the two will still happen, but the possibility will certainly have to wait until at least next year. While Khabib is now booked to fight Gaethje at UFC 254 in October, Mendez believes it could have been Ferguson’s opportunity.
“Nothing against Tony. I think personally Tony screwed up in his last fight by overtraining, by cutting the weight,” Mendez revealed. “He shouldn’t have done that. In this game, it’s a matter of inches.
“You cannot go out there and do that to prove a point. … Which is a true warrior [move], but from the winning and losing perspective, that may not have been the wisest move.”
Are you still interested in seeing Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Tony Ferguson?
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