LAS VEGAS – Islam Makhachev wants to settle unfinished business.
The rising UFC lightweight contender is hoping to fight his teammate and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov’s long-time nemesis, Tony Ferguson. Makhachev (20-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) took aim at the former UFC interim lightweight champion following his latest win at Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 26. Makhachev defeated Thiago Moises via submission in the fourth round of their main event clash.
The 29-year-old is on an eight-fight winning streak and wants to get a crack at the bigger names of the 155-pound division. Although interested in Michael Chandler and Rafael Dos Anjos, Makhachev prefers to get his hands on Ferguson.
“If they were to give me a choice, let’s do it with Tony because we have good history with him,” Makhachev told reporters at the UFC on ESPN 26 post-fight press conference. “Khabib was supposed to fight with him like five, six times. Let’s finish this, you know. I’m going to finish this. I’m going to show Tony not Khabib level. People don’t understand how Khabib pressures. I can’t explain to you guys, but I think you know everything.”
Ferguson was long time considered one of the best fighters at 155 pounds and many believed he was the one capable of handing Nurmagomedov’s first professional defeat. Both fighters were scheduled to fight five times, but due to injuries and other circumstances, the two never met in the cage.
Nurmagomedov retired last October following his title defense win over Justin Gaethje. Ferguson is still active, but now finds himself in a three-fight losing streak.
The Dagestani fighter is often referred to as Nurmagomedov’s heir to the lightweight title. Makhachev doesn’t mind comparisons, and in fact, enjoys being seen as the next Nurmagomedov.
“If somebody says I’m almost the same as Khabib, I agree with this,” Makhachev said. “I want to be like Khabib, you know. He’s a great man, he’s champion, he has a lot of money and he has everything, but he’s still a humble guy.
“He’s coming to U.S. without his family. He stays here one, two months to help us. He doesn’t take money, nothing. He just comes and does the whole thing. We came to U.S. and he rent big house for team and a lot of cars for team and nobody pay. He pay for everything. I cannot explain Khabib. He does a lot of stuff, but not everyone knows this.”