Tony Ferguson declines fight offer to remain on UFC 209

This just in!

After Khabib Nurmagomedov was forced out of his UFC 209 interim lightweight title fight with Tony Ferguson just hours before weigh-ins, the UFC was scrambling in an attempt to find “El Cucuy” a last minute replacement.

Fellow division contender Michael Johnson offered to step-up on extremely short-notice and fight Ferguson at UFC 209.

However, unfortunately for fight fans, a rematch between Johnson and Ferguson could not be put together in time and thus “El Cucuy” has been removed from the event entirely.

Michael Johnson is in Vegas and confident he can make weight to fight Ferguson tomorrow night #UFC209. His camp is currently waiting on UFC

— Chris Taylor (@CTaylor_96) March 3, 2017

Tony Ferguson is 15-1 in last 16 fights. Only loss? Michael Johnson (UD in 2012). The rematch was booked for UFC 196 but didn't happen.

— Guilherme Cruz (@guicruzzz) March 3, 2017

Michael Johnson confirms to me via text he's trying to get the fight with Tony Ferguson. "We're waiting on a response."

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) March 3, 2017

Me: What do you weigh right now?

Michael Johnson: Close enough to make it happen.

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) March 3, 2017

Interestingly enough, Michael Johnson was the last man to defeat Tony Ferguson. That fight took place in 2012, in just Ferguson’s 4th UFC fight, where he dropped a unanimous decision to “The Menace”.

Since then, Ferguson has gone on to rattle off 9 straight wins, cementing his place at the top of the UFC’s lightweight division.

Johnson on the other hand is fresh off a UFC 205 loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov, where he lost a rather one sided fight. Prior to that, Johnson knocked out Dustin Poirier to snap a 2-fight skid that saw him drop a split decision to Beneil Dariush before then dropping a rather one sided decision to Nate Diaz.

Michael Johnson took to Twitter where he announced the disappointing news:

I was ready and willing!! To make that title weight for last minute. Unfortunately @TonyFergusonXT declined it. Catch ya around next time!

— Michael Johnson (@Menace155) March 3, 2017

This article first appeared on BJPENN.com on 3/3/2017.