UFC 209 Preview: Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson

LAS VEGAS, NV – JANUARY 19: (L-R) No. 1 lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov of Russia and No. 2 lightweight contender Tony Ferguson face off during the UFC 209 Ultimate Media Day event inside The Park Theater on January 19, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Juan Cardenas/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

It was originally penciled in as UFC: 209 at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn. Then when it wasn’t, allot of fans genuinely felt that the card would wind up somehow over in Stockton, California. The home of MMA royalty; Nick and Nate Diaz and most importantly a city that bares the area code of, “209”.
However, those lofty rumors were put to rest when the company confirmed that UFC 209 would take place in Las Vegas, Nevada at the T-Mobile Arena. Neatly packaged with solid bouts and topped off with two high profile and entertaining title bouts perfectly in lined up to kick off the month of March Madness. The two matches have some depth and will make quiet the impact in their respective divisions once the dust settles following the UFC 209 pay per view show. Here’s a two-part guide on both title matches as we peel away at the various layers.
UFC 209 – Part 2 of 2
Khabib “The Eagle ” Nurmagomedov vs. Tony “El Cu Cuy” Ferguson
UFC Interim Championship Lightweight Bout – 5 Rounds
This tremendous title tilt is not only going to pit the #1 ranked versus the #2 ranked fighter in the weight class but, it’s gently seasoned with the delicious flavor of a heated rivalry as well as a dash of MMA history. The match is for the Interim 155-pound belt, something that hasn’t officially happened before in the organization’s 23-year history. (Yes, an interim bout was booked back at UFC 80 but due to a discrepancy it became a full-belt affair.) As for the current full champion of the division, Conor McGregor, is on a hiatus expected to return in the summer to unify against the winner of Saturday’s co-main event. That future match can easily make for guaranteed fireworks regardless of who comes out the victor this weekend setting up a blockbuster unification in July or August with McGregor’s name tied to Khabib or Tony’s making for a sure fire 1 million buys UFC PPV.
Elite guys colliding in the Octagon is a staple of the company’s business practices but seeing the top fighters in their division meet while in their prime and injury-free is a treat for any MMA aficionado.
Also, fans will get to see the rarity which is a The Ultimate Fighter winner, in this case season 13’s Tony Ferguson, challenge for UFC gold. Lastly, all of the interview bickering, trash talking and heated exchanges on social media between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson will culminate in a potential 25-minute barn burner. The fact that they were originally scheduled to lock horns at The Ultimate Fighter season 22 Finale in December of 2015 only makes this that much more interesting. That bout was a non-title encounter and both men have grown by leaps and bounds since therefore it being a championship match only spices things up further. Both are on solid win streaks and both are bringing big momentum into this fight; the irresistible force meets the immovable object and its odd that Nurmagomedov is a -220 betting favorite to Ferguson’s +185.
Khabib Nurmagomedov (24-0) has never lost in the Octagon, nor in his entire professional career. His stellar record is perfectly divided into 8 submission, 8 decision and 8 KO victories. Since arriving to the UFC in 2012 this Russian tornado of destruction has whirled and wrecked his way past former champion Rafael dos Anjos, Pat Healy, Abel Trujillo, and Gleison Tibau via unanimous decisions. And, when he wasn’t putting on Sambo clinics he finished Michael Johnson, Darrel Horcher, Thiago Tavares and Kamal Shalarous all inside the distance. The definition of a deathly dominant and destructive wrestler, “The Eagle’s” top control soars past his outmatched opponents and this has further enabled him to end foes since the smothering offense renders fighters desperate and defenseless also leaving them open for a finish.
Tony Ferguson (23-3) won the TUF Season 13 title back in 2011 by stopping Ramsey Nijem via KO due to strikes in 4 minutes of their match. He then went on to win 12 out of his next 13 bouts while scooping up 8 UFC Performance Bonuses along the way. The lone defeat in his Octagon run being a decision loss in 2012 to Michael Johnson. Ferguson’s nickname translates into “The Boogeyman” and he has terrorized the division as of late. The Oxnard, California resident holds unanimous decisions over former champions, Rafel dos Anjos and Josh Thomson. And, when Ferguson isn’t displaying his crafty and creative mix of kicks, knees and punches he dazzles with submissions over Lando Vannata, Edson Barboza, Gleison Tibau, Abel Trujillo, and Mike Rio all in 2 rounds or less. His continued development and rise to the top of the division couldn’t have come at a better time as he is poised to take his game to the next level against the toughest foe he has ever faced.
The match-up at its core is one that pits pure, masterful skill versus solid will and determination. Khabib is a modern-day Georges St. Pierre; everyone knows what he is going to do and countless foes have been powerless to stop it or even slow it down. The Russian resonates power and mercilessly runs rickshaw on his opponent; it’s not a question of would you end up under him, but more of when will you? His ground and pound is fight-ending and his top control has swallowed opponents alive, drowning them in power punches and vicious elbows breaking bone and ripping flesh along the way.
Incidentally, Ferguson has proven to be a handful for anyone on the mat and has one of the most dangerous if not the most dangerous and active BJJ guards in the division. This brown belt wizard doesn’t ever rest, he relentlessly goes to work. The Californian doesn’t cruise to the finish line he sets up traps and executes finishes. It’s not a question of can he submit his opponent when the fight goes to the ground, but more of how long will it take?
The irresistible force meets the immovable object and appropriately so it’s the co-main event of the UFC 209 PPV live from inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where something or someone inevitably has to give.