Khabib: Ferguson Fight “Biggest Lightweight Fight Ever”

A fight that seemed like it would never fully come to fruition is only five days away from finally happening. Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson will carry long win-streaks into the cage when they fight for the UFC interim lightweight championship at UFC 209.

On The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani on Monday, Nurmagomedov said he believes that his fight with Ferguson is the biggest lightweight matchup in UFC history.

“A lot of people are gonna watch this fight,” Nurmagomedov said. “My fanbase is huge. This is very big fight. In my opinion, this is the greatest lightweight fight ever in the UFC.”

Though UFC 209 is main evented by a welterweight title fight between Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson, much of the hype has been centered on Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson. On the conference call last week, Ferguson even said that he believes their fight should be the main event, to which Woodley objected.

“I feel like Tony is a little bit nervous, like all of my opponents,” Nurmagomedov said. “But for me, it’s fun. I enjoy this. I talk with him, I enjoy a little bit joke with him, make him nervous.

“Now, everything has changed. the talk is finished. We’re here. We’re in Vegas. It’s five days before the fight. Fight week. I can’t wait for the cage to close.”

UFC 209: Woodley vs. Thompson 2 takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, March 4th. The main card will be broadcast live exclusively on pay-per-view.