Khabib kicks Tony Ferguson’s belt away in heated UFC 249 press conference
- ‘Contract killer’ Ferguson turns up with gloves on and a baseball in hand ‘in case they run’
- Lightweight champion Khabib fires back at ‘stupid guy’ as UFC launches press for huge April 18 showdown
Tony Ferguson came spoiling for a fight with UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov on Friday, long before the pair are set to meet in what had already promised to be an explosive match-up at UFC 249 in Brooklyn on April 18.
“I’m a contract killer and I’m going to slap you,” was among the few printable tirades the American challenger launched at the champion from Dagestan.
Fight fans gathered inside the T-Mobile Centre in Las Vegas for the event’s official press launch roared their approval as Ferguson (25-3) – gloves on and a baseball in hand “in case they run” – let the invectives fly.
“You’re f****** fat! You’re about the same size as [Daniel] Cormier right now,” was another of El Cucuy’s choice cuts.
For his part Nurmagomedov (28-0) mainly managed to keep his cool. Until, that is, the event looked poised to boil over when Ferguson placed his interim belt on the stage and Nurmagomedov seemed to attempt to kick it into the crowd.