Ferguson eyes Nate Diaz next: ‘I haven’t had a knockout in a long time’

[Edge Guerrero]

by Chuck Mindenhall Mar 13, 2017



A little more than a week after his interim title bout with Khabib Nurmagomedov fell apart, Tony Ferguson is moving on. By his own count, he has put on between “25 to 30 pounds” since he made weight for his UFC 209 fight, and — now having seen a match-up with Nurmagomedov fall through on three separate occasions — he’s contemplating new dance partners.

Nurmagomedov was forced out of his fight with Ferguson just 36 hours beforehand the event was to take place, ending up at a Las Vegas hospital to replenish fluids after a bad weight cut. In the meantime, Ferguson has been a target to other lightweights looking to jump in for a fight with Ferguson. Michael Chiesa (whom Ferguson was supposed to face last summer) has shown interest, as has Michael Johnson (who volunteered to fight him on short notice a little over a week ago) and Edson Barboza (who just knocked out Beneil Dariush in Fortaleza, Brazil).

So what’s the ideal situation for Ferguson? Namely to pick up the pieces.

“I’m a professional, so I’m going to try and move on from this,” Ferguson said during a visit to The MMA Hour on Monday. “Trying to offer Khabib a chance to come back at it and see what his position is, but I don’t think he’s doing too good right now. So I’m not sure who’s next man. Been kind of throwing it around the bush and I’m ready, bro. My body doesn’t know anything different than to fight right now. So that’s what I would like to do. I’d like to fight real soon. Especially for the belt.”

Ferguson did have one idea spring to mind, a fight that a lot of people have been warming in the aftermath of the botched Nurmagomedov fight.

“I’m just throwing a name out there, but I think Nate Diaz and myself could actually put on a good show,” he told Ariel Helwani. “I think his ranking is kind of bullshit too, but I don’t really see anybody else. I mean, Edson Barboza called me out, but it is what it is. Everything’s in the air right now. I want to fight for the title. I want a fair fight, I want to go in there and kick this dude’s ass no matter who’s signed to the dotted line, and fucking move on. And kick Conor’s ass. I don’t know what he’s up to, but lets just go.”

Full read http://www.mmafighting.com/2017/3/13/14915370/tony-ferguson-eyes-nate-diaz-next-i-havent-had-a-knockout-in-a-long-time