Former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson has achieved many things inside the octagon. He is counted amongst the finest to ever grace the ring in the world of MMA. However, he has never fought for the lightweight championship, something he has been vocal about.
Apart from that, he has never faced Conor McGregor inside the ring. During his buildup to the fight between Charles Oliveira at UFC 256, ‘El Cucuy’ took a shot at McGregor and Paradigm Sports Management.
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El Cucuy claimed that McGregor and Paradigm Sports Management owe him $500,000, as the two denied scheduling a fighter between him and the ‘Notorious’ when they both came in the same banner.
Ferguson also stated that the management team used to give more importance to McGregor and manipulated the system with UFC for the money.
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😳 @TonyFergusonXT says @TheNotoriousMMA owes him $500k…
And roasts Khabib and Dustin Poirier 👀
Full interview on YouTube now 👇 https://t.co/r4uajskI9Z pic.twitter.com/45kIlk3Pzs
— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) December 9, 2020
Ferguson was not happy after he was denied fighting Poirier as the negotiations failed out. It was a chance for him to push for the title challenge. Not only McGregor, ‘El Cucuy’ took shots over Khabib and Poirier too.
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“I don’t know. That dude is a b**ch. He’s a b**ch, Conor’s a b**ch, Khabib’s a b**ch. I saw that they were going to take the No 2 and No 4 and then put them over me. Get one with Chandler, do that, and put me at No 5. F*** that!
“It’s not happening. I’ve been at this company for a very, very long time and it’s happened once before with Conor. It’s not happening. There’s no management to do bad business behind my back anymore with Paradigm Sports Management,” he had said.
When Tony Ferguson took shots at Poirier vs McGregor
After failed negotiations with Ferguson, Poirier was booked to fight with McGregor. The ‘Diamond’ took to Twitter and had shared the same. The proposed clash was a rematch from 2014 when the ‘Notorious’ got the better of Poirier in a first-round win.
I fight for a lot of things, but nothing more important to me than fighting for change and giving back @TheGoodFightFDN. The Generosity of @TheNotoriousMMA will help countless in need. I have accepted, Connor has accepted, and the fans demand it! Let’s go @ufc @espnmma
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) October 8, 2020
This didn’t sit well with Ferguson, and he made sure both the fighters bore the brunt of his words. “What A Sell Out, Taking A Bribe From An International Terrorist. Good Job Kid. I Represent America. All That Talk About The Fight Game Only To Be Afraid & Be Left Behind Out Of The Loop. Take The Money & Be Proud Fake,” he had said.
What A Sell Out, Taking A Bribe From An International Terrorist. Good Job Kid. I Represent America. All That Talk About The Fight Game Only To Be Afraid & Be Left Behind Out Of The Loop. Take The Money & Be Proud Fake. pic.twitter.com/VpKamihpzI
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) October 8, 2020
Ferguson had picked up 12 straight victories out of 13 matches at the time. He surely felt cheated by his management and UFC for not letting him run for the title. Although the ‘Notorious’ won’t pay him half a million, he surely can have a hope to fight McGregor someday.
Can McGregor and Ferguson ever meet inside the ring?
