Tony Ferguson and Al Iaquinta get heated on social media

If things had gone to the original plan, former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov would have battled for the UFC lightweight title at UFC 223. Regrettably, Ferguson sustained a freak injury just days ahead of the fight, and was ultimately replaced by Al Iaquinta, who battled Nurmagomedov in a last-minute title fight. Nurmagomedov won this fight by unanimous decision.

Since then, Ferguson has sought to discredit Nurmagomedov’s title win on the basis that it came against the UFC’s 11th-ranked lightweight on only one day’s notice. And now, Iaquinta has intervened.

On Sunday, Iaquinta responded to Ferguson’s comments on Twitter, which led to a heated back and forth between the two lightweight contenders.

See how it all unfolded below:

.Beats a non-full time fighter real estate agent ranked #11 on @ufc roster, and I get Stripped when same thing happened to @rjwhittaker1990 @teamkhabib run til’ November #PaperChump 👊😎🇺🇸🏆🇲🇽 https://t.co/es3xBJEPSR

— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) April 24, 2018

https://twitter.com/ALIAQUINTA/status/988606640873230337

the ufc stripped you cause your a weirdo and Whittaker isn’t

— Al Iaquinta🗽 (@ALIAQUINTA) April 24, 2018

Damn Son You Didn’t Even Belong In That Cage, Although I WAS rooting For You, Weird Is Having To Make Your Own Name Plate At Media Day. Sad To See How You SOLD OUT To Fight For A Title When You Couldn’t Even Win The Title. Star Struck. Best Of Luck Kid. Get Back In Line.

— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) April 24, 2018

I belonged more than you, you tripped on a rope

— Al Iaquinta🗽 (@ALIAQUINTA) April 24, 2018

It’s Ok Kiddo, I Forgive You. I’m Not The One You’re** Really Angry At. One Day We Will See Each Other In The Octagon If You Keep Winning. #TUFGuys

— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) April 24, 2018

Be quiet until you come back until then your embarrassing yourself you can’t fight

— Al Iaquinta🗽 (@ALIAQUINTA) April 24, 2018

I’ll Never Be Quiet Kiddo. 👊😎 pic.twitter.com/cDJtdRQL7g

— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) April 24, 2018

@TonyFergusonXT you said you were going to meet at the flag pole after school and you didn’t show up because you tripped on a rope 😂 hide bro

— Al Iaquinta🗽 (@ALIAQUINTA) April 24, 2018

Prior to his loss to Nurmagomedov, Iaquinta was on a five-fight win-streak, composed of impressive victories over Diego Sanchez, Jorge Masvidal, Joe Lauzon, Ross Pearson and Rodrigo Damm. The outspoken New Yorker is currently 13-4-1 overall.

Ferguson, meanwhile, is currently on a 10-fight streak, highlighted by wins over Abel Trujillo, Josh Thomson, Edson Barboza, Lando Vannata, Rafael dos Anjos and Kevin Lee. He’s 23-3 in sum.

Remarkably, Nurmagomedov and Ferguson have been scheduled to fight a whopping four times to no avail. After their latest nixed bout, UFC President Dana White assured he would never attempt make the bout again.

“Hell no,” White told ESPN shortly after Ferguson withdrew from UFC 223. “I’m never making that fight ever again. Ever.”

While White could stick to his guns on this one for awhile, his hand may be forced if Ferguson and Nurmagomedov keep winning. And in the meantime, it seems like Iaquinta and Ferguson might be interested in settling their differences in the cage.

Who do you think came out on top in this Twitter beef between Al Iaquinta and Tony Ferguson? Join the conversation in the comments section.

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 4/25/2018.