His style is unmistakable: relentless pressure, a punishing pace, elbows from every angle. Today, Tony Ferguson is a former UFC fighter, yet interest in him hasn’t faded. In this conversation, he explains plainly why he might return to the Octagon, recalls five aborted dates with Khabib Nurmagomedov, speaks bluntly about Conor McGregor, and shares details about his upcoming boxing bout.
On Motivation and a Possible Return to the UFC
— Tony, under what conditions would you step into the Octagon under the UFC banner again?
— My answer is short: for two names — Conor McGregor or Khabib Nurmagomedov. Those are the only matchups that make sense to me. We have unfinished business with both. But honestly, I doubt they would agree.
— Why exactly these opponents?
— History. Fans know how long everything revolved around these matchups. Plus personal rivalry. Fights like these aren’t just one-night events; they’re chapters in a career.
Five Cancellations and the Ghost of UFC 249
— Your fight with Nurmagomedov was attempted five times. What stands out the most?
— An incredible chain of coincidences and force majeure. Twice the cancellations were on his side, twice on mine. In 2020 we had a real chance to meet at UFC 249, but the pandemic intervened: the card was reshuffled, borders closed, lockdowns — the bout slipped away again.
"They Talked Him Out of It": Why the Superfight Never Happened
— You’ve said more than once that logistics weren’t the only obstacle for Khabib. What do you mean?
— In my view, his circle and family convinced him that taking the risk with me wasn’t worth it. People remember the tiramisu jokes, but behind them is a simple idea: he was busy with other things, not preparing for me. You can’t change that now.
On Conor — No Courtesies
— How do you assess the likelihood of a scenario with Conor?
— During the years he was active, he never showed real interest in our fight. I’ll be blunt: guys like Conor love loud announcements, but when it comes to specifics, they have no appetite to face me. Call it what you want — I didn’t see courage there.
"The White House? Why Not." On the Dream Venue and Khabib’s Father’s Words
— You said you’d be ready to fight Khabib even at the White House. Seriously?
— Absolutely. If such a crazy idea could be realized, I’d take it. Khabib’s father said it was the only fight that needed to be made. So the venue is secondary. The main thing is for the fight to finally happen.
Career After the UFC and Near-Term Plans
— Since January 2025 you’ve officially been off the UFC roster. How did you handle that transition?
— Calmly. I’ve never been a hostage to the marquee. I’m training, moving, trying new things. Khabib, by the way, has a nice number — 29–0 and retirement in 2021. Everyone has their own path.
— Is the next step boxing?
— Yes. On August 30 I have a boxing bout against Nathaniel Bustamante. It’s a different rhythm, a different distance, different emphases in preparation — but the competitive fire is the same. I love challenges, and this one is the exciting kind.
If the Matchmaker Calls Tomorrow…
— Let’s imagine you’re offered one of those “two names” tomorrow. What’s your answer?
— You already know. I sign the contract and start camp. In fights like these there are no extra words — there’s a date, weight, team, and work. Fans have been waiting for this for years. So have I.
This material was recorded after Tony Ferguson’s official departure from the UFC and on the eve of his boxing bout against Nathaniel Bustamante.
