Top UFC lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov is healthy and ready for a main event with the explosive Tony Ferguson at UFC on FOX 19 in April.
While "El Cucuy" may have forgotten about "The Eagle" over the last two years, it's hard to bypass the Dagestani grappler's profound winning streak. Nurmagomedov has tamed the likes of current 155-pound champion Rafael dos Anjos, Pat Healy and Gleison Tibau en route to a six-fight win streak.
He's 22-0 overall and knocking on the door of a title shot, so he tells the fellas of Inside MMA:
"He's a tough guy; seven-fight win streak. When I'm injured last two years, he has six UFC fights. He's one of the top guys everywhere, on the ground, striking. That's why I take this fight, because I love challenge. My mind only think about Tony Ferguson and the 16th of April. I don't think about Alvarez, dos Anjos and McGregor. After we'll see what happens. I think after this fight, I deserve title shot."
Ferguson was initially pegged to go to war with the Sambo master last December in the co-main event of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 22 Finale, but Nurmagomedov injured himself in training just one day before he would've flown stateside to complete training at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA).
As you can tell from where he's sitting in the above video, "The Eagle" has already landed.
Ferguson, a winner of TUF 13, was a bit peeved he wouldn't be colliding with Numagomedov in "Sin City," but made the most of his outing against short-notice replacement Edson Barboza, submitting "Junior" impressively with a D'arce choke.
His win over the Muay Thai striker brought his UFC win total to 10.
The two haven't exactly been the best of friends lately and it could boil over into what is sure to be an action-packed tilt inside Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
For more UFC on FOX 19 news and notes click here.
Get the latest gear
