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Nicolas Atkin

It could be a while before Dana White tries to book Tony Ferguson vs Khabib Nurmagomedov again.
Even if Ferguson beats Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title at UFC 249 on May 9, UFC president White admitted he is a little hesitant to try to make the match-up for a sixth time.
The latest attempt at booking MMA fans’ dream fight was curtailed by a global pandemic, of all things, after injuries and weight cut issues on both sides had scuppered it four times since 2015.
Asked in a Reddit AMA (ask me anything) on r/MMA how confident he was that Ferguson and UFC lightweight champion Nurmagomedov would fight at some point this year, White was blunt.

“Not very,” he said. “I’m afraid of what will happen next if we try to make that fight happen again.”
“Tony’s ready to fight. Gaethje is one of the best in the world. This fight needs to happen. Last thing anyone needs to do is keep waiting for Tony vs Khabib,” White replied to another question.
UFC: Cerrone admits ‘I didn’t wanna be there’ vs McGregor
But when he was asked by another fan on Reddit what was the biggest fight he never got to host, he said: “It’s gotta be Tony Khabib.”
The Russian was set to fight Ferguson in Brooklyn on April 18 before the pandemic escalated. The UFC scrambled to find a new venue for the event outside the US, and Nurmgomedov ended up stranded in Dagestan with Russia in lockdown. The event was postponed altogether after a bid to host it at Tachi Palace Casino on tribal land in Northern California was nixed by ESPN and Disney, at the behest of governor Gavin Newsom.
Nurmagomedov will return later this year and it sounds like a rematch with Conor McGregor could be on the cards.
“I know everybody is gonna go ‘isn’t he awesome’ but it’s true. I would have to say Conor-Khabib,” said White, when asked on Reddit what rematch he wants the most. “Conor wants that rematch so bad and I would love to see it.”

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UFC: Dana White ‘afraid what will happen next’ if he makes Khabib vs Tony Ferguson again

Dana White separates Khabib Nurmagomedov (left) and Tony Ferguson during the UFC 249 press conference. Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

FILE PHOTO: Jun 8, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; Tony Ferguson (red gloves) before fighting Donald Cerrone (blue gloves) during UFC 238 at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo

UFC: Dana White says Khabib will be back in ‘September or October’ to face winner of Ferguson vs Gaethje

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov faces-off with contender Tony Ferguson as president Dana White separates the pair during a UFC 249 press conference in March. Photo: Zuffa LLC

UFC: Conor McGregor can beat Tony Ferguson but has no chance vs Khabib, says Eddie Alvarez

Khabib Nurmagomedov (top) gets Conor McGregor in a rear-naked choke during UFC 229 at T-Mobile Arena in 2018. Photo: USA Today

UFC: Justin Gaethje out to ‘royally screw up’ Khabib vs Tony Ferguson match-up

Justin Gaethe looks on as Khabib Nurmagomedov talks at a Dominance MMA media day in Las Vegas. Photo: Amy Kaplan

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 06:  during the UFC 249 press conference at T-Mobile Arena on March 06, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

UFC: Tony Ferguson tells ‘drunk’ Conor McGregor to ‘get in line’ after threat

Tony Ferguson punches Donald Cerrone during their lightweight bout at UFC 238. Photo: AP

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


UFC president White is ‘not very’ confident lightweight champ Khabib will fight Ferguson this year
White tells Reddit AMA he’s still keen on Khabib vs Conor McGregor rematch



UFC president Dana White is ‘not very’ confident Khabib Nurmagomedov will fight Tony Ferguson this year, and is ‘afraid what will happen next’ if he books fight for a sixth time.


Khabib Nurmagomedov

Tony Ferguson

Conor McGregor

Dana White

UFC: Dana White ‘afraid what will happen next’ if he makes Khabib vs Tony Ferguson again

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} UFC president White is ‘not very’ confident lightweight champ Khabib will fight Ferguson this year White tells Reddit AMA he’s still keen on Khabib vs Conor McGregor rematch

UFC president White is ‘not very’ confident lightweight champ Khabib will fight Ferguson this year

White tells Reddit AMA he’s still keen on Khabib vs Conor McGregor rematch