Yesterday UFC 209 got its main event, but there is at least one more massive fight in store for the March event. A fight between top lightweight contenders Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov has been in the works for months, but it appears now to be finally moving forward.
Since newly crowned lightweight champion Conor McGregor announced he would be taking a short hiatus, Ferguson and Nurmagomedov were matched up to decide the single top contender.
Ferguson, however, found himself in a contract squabble with the UFC over the terms of his contract. UFC President Dana White told the media that Ferguson wanted to be paid the same amount as Nurmagomedov, which was not going to happen.
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Nurmagomedov even offered Ferguson $200,000 of his own purse to get the fight done. Ferguson predictably declined the offer, but it appears that he has gotten over his differences with the promotion and the fight is going forward.
Ferguson took to Twitter after being tested by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and he all but confirmed that the matchup is a go for March 4.
USADA Showed Up & I Responded. See You March 4 @TeamKhabib & We Will Settle This Once & For All Inside a The Octagon At #UFC209 pic.twitter.com/Opu4rsgMAW
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) January 10, 2017
"USADA Showed Up & I Responded," Ferguson wrote. "See You March 4 [Nurmagomedov] & We Will Settle This Once & For ALl Inside a The Octagon At UFC 209."
It is likely that Ferguson and Nurmagomedov will fight for an interim lightweight title, making it a five-round contest and the second title fight on UFC 209. The main event for the card was announced to be a rematch between welterweight champion Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson.