Tony Ferguson gives demands for Khabib Nurmagomedov rebooking

This past weekend at UFC 209, top ranked lightweights Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson were set to face off in the co-main event for the interim lightweight title. Unfortunately, the day of weigh-ins, Nurmagomedov was forced to go to the hospital as he was in need of IV fluids.

Ultimately, The Eagle was forced out of the fight, and the UFC was forced to scrap the fight as a whole after being unable to find Tony Ferguson a suitable opponent on such short notice. UFC President Dana White then spoke later in the day at a press conference, revealing that the fight could have been saved had Nurmagomedov’s team not gone “rogue”.

With that being said, Nurmagomedov’s manager recently shed some light on the situation, saying:

“Two days before the fight he had a little flu, but he took his vitamin C, and he was feeling alright,” he said. “It was something very minor, and he didn’t even need to go to a doctor. Vitamin C, rest and sleeping. When you cut weight your immune system goes down. The weight cut, I’m telling you, it was the same as every time, and every time he makes weight. The last time he fought Michael Johnson, he makes weight. But I think this time, something different. The pain was coming from his liver, but I think the dehydration for sure, and I think it was part of the process.”

Now, with fans speculating as to whether or not Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson will be rebooked for an upcoming fight card, Tony Ferguson spoke to ESPN.com to explain his terms for a rebooking with Nurmagomedov.

“The terms have got to be fair, with assurances that if he doesn’t make weight, that’s my belt. And my show money, and my win money.”

“He needs to take that as a loss. He’s 24-1 now,” Ferguson said. “If you don’t show up, you lose. In football, you have games on a schedule. You take that loss. Right now, I feel he deserves that loss.”

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com 3/8/2017.