Dana White still interested in Nurmagomedov and Ferguson as TUF coaches
Throughout the history of mixed martial arts there have been fights that seem to have always gotten away from the fans; fights that were supposed to take place when each of the competitors were in the primes.
Fights such as Fedor Emelianenko vs. Randy Couture, Ronda Rousey vs. Cris Cyborg, and of course former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. former interim champion Tony Ferguson.
The Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson bout had been booked multiple times over but the MMA Gods just wouldn’t let the actual fight come to fruition. The fight was scheduled to take place not once, not twice, not three, not even four, but a remarkable five times and yet the octagon door never closed with the two locked inside. At one point the two men were considered to be the top lightweights in the world, but as they say, “time changes everything.”
In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Ferguson told reporters that he is still interested in the idea of coaching opposite Nurmagomedov on an upcoming season of the Ultimate Fighter. While the heated rivalry between the two has fizzled out over the years and Nurmagomedov has since retired from competition, the former champion did express an interest in granting Ferguson’s wish.
The suggestion even has the approval of UFC President Dana White.
“So you’re telling me, you guys as fans, media, whatever it might be, like the idea of two guys possibly coaching that wouldn’t fight each other?” White responded Tuesday when asked about Ferguson’s proposal on The Spinnin Backfist MMA Show.
“I’ll consider it. Congratulations. … I will absolutely entertain that idea.”
Ferguson was recently knocked out while competing against Michael Chanler at UFC 274, his fourth consecutive loss. Nurmagomedov has been busy taking the lead as frontman for Eagle FC.
“Hopefully they’ll get pissed off enough at each other that they actually want to fight and I can make them fight,” White joked.
“I’m in. You sold me.”
