Khabib Nurmagomedov to Tony Ferguson: ‘You Had Your Chance and You Missed It’

While reigning lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov finishes his suspension, Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier will vie for the interim 155-pound belt at UFC 236. That wasn’t the promotion’s first choice, however.

UFC President Dana White told ESPN that former interim champion Tony Ferguson was offered the fight against Holloway but refused, opening the door for Poirier to take his place. It’s unclear why Ferguson didn’t accept the fight, but “El Cucuy” has since claimed that “I can make 145 [pounds].”

Meanwhile, Nurmagomedov had some choice words for Ferguson in a post on his Instagram account. “The Eagle” seems to think that Ferguson should have taken the opportunity presented to him.

“Tony you had your chance and you missed it, and that’s your fault only,” Nurmagomedov wrote. “You know that I’m disqualified and can’t fight, but it’s not fair to strip me 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 great fighter and opponent, but now you have to fight or wait for my DQ to be over and fight (but UFC doesn’t want it). I don’t understand your offenses, if you fell down, you got to get up, not complain.”

Over the past few years, Ferguson and Nurmagomedov have been booked to fight on four different occasions, and each time their bout has been scrapped for various reasons. Most recently, Ferguson was to have faced the Dagestani for lightweight gold at UFC 223, but he tore his ACL while tripping during media obligations one week before the fight. “El Cucuy” captured the interim crown with a win over Kevin Lee at UFC 216 but was stripped following the injury.

Ferguson returned to the Octagon at UFC 229, earning his 11th consecutive victory with a second-round stoppage of Anthony Pettis.

View this post on Instagram

I want to remind you guys, that before I become champion, I was close to the title fight 3 times and all 3 times I missed my opportunity. First was in July 2016 when I was offered to fight in Ramadan month and I turned it down, second was UFC 205 NYC when I was offered a title fight, bout agreement signed, but my title was given away, you know the story. Third time was UFC 209 where I was hospitalized and almost died. But after every single fail I were said: you missed your chance, earn your shot with one more victory. Tony you had your chance and you missed it, and that’s your fault only. You know that I’m disqualified and can’t fight, but it’s not fair to strip me 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 great fighter and opponent, but now you have to fight or wait for my DQ to be over and fight(but UFC doesn’t want it). I don’t understand your offenses, if you fell down, you got to get up, not complain. #ufc #mma #ufclightweight

A post shared by Khabib Nurmagomedov (@khabib_nurmagomedov) on Feb 23, 2019 at 7:24pm PST