Islam Makhachev calls out Tony Ferguson: 'I want to just help him retire'

LAS VEGAS – While Islam Makhachev isn’t exactly the calling out type, he had a name ready following his UFC 259 win on Saturday night: Tony Ferguson.

Makhachev, the longtime friend and training partner of Khabib Nurmagomedov, said he wants to take the fight that the reigning lightweight champion saw dissolve five times before – and that he wants to make a statement with a win over “El Cucuy.”

“My dream fight is Tony because we have some deal with him, like a couple years now,” Makhachev told reporters, including MMA Junkie, following his UFC 259 win over Drew Dober at the UFC Apex. “He’s still, like, pressuring Khabib. I don’t understand this guy, but I want to just help him retire. He is old. His mind is a little bit crazy. That’s why I just want to help him.”

Nurmagomedov and Ferguson have a rivalry that dates back to 2015. However they never actually fought, as increasingly more bizarre circumstances were responsible for scrapping the fight on multiple occasions – including, most recently, a global pandemic. Yet Ferguson has remained steadfast in his belief that he is capable of becoming the first man to beat Nurmagomedov.

However, with Nurmagomedov insisting he’s comfortable sticking to his previously announced retirement, Makhachev (19-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) says he wants to see Ferguson (25-5 MMA, 15-3 UFC) in the octagon.

“I just want to show people how Khabib would take him down, make him tired, make him tap,” Makhachev said. “Everybody talks like Tony is a hard fight for Khabib, but I never think like that because Khabib’s wrestling and grappling is a different level. Nobody has it like that.”

Of course, it’s not all just about defending his friend’s honor. Makhachev said he spent five different training camps emulating Ferguson to help Nurmagomedov train, so he feels incredibly prepared to take on the challenge.

“Tony is a very good fighter because he finished a lot of guys,” Makhachev said. “That’s why I just want to check my skills, and I know I can finish him.”

But all the past history aside, the matchup does seem to have some real meaning in the UFC’s lightweight division. After all the 29-year-old Makhachev is deemed by many as a potential future champion in the sport. He’s currently ranked No. 14 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie lightweight rankings, though he’ll almost certainly move up when this week’s updated list is revealed.

Meanwhile, the 37-year-old Ferguson sits at No. 5 but would appear to be in the latter stages of his professional career. With Makhachev hoping to challenge for a belt early next year, a fight with Ferguson could be exactly what he needs to vault him into the upper echelon of the class.

That’s what matters most to Makhachev, he said. The Ferguson fight does seem to make sense, and there’s a built-in story to help sell it. But at the end of the day, he just wants a chance to move up the rankings.

“Honestly, I just want to fight with somebody from the top-five, but I know all the guys are busy,” Makhachev said. “Some guys have fights like this, but I know Tony is now free. That’s why I asked him. Let’s make this happen.”