Khabib Nurmagomedov versus Tony Ferguson would have been a dream match for UFC fans. To this day, many still talk about the potential fight that was supposed to take place between the two. While the bout did not materialize, fans might get to see them face each other.

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The former UFC lightweight champion, Nurmagomedov, would like to be a part of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ as a coach. He tweeted calling out Ferguson to be a part of ‘TUF’ too. That way, both would get a chance to face each other.

‘The Eagle’ wrote, “Tony I like the idea about TUF, call your bosses and let them make an offer, but if they don’t have ideas, I myself will offer you a deal on the @EagleFightClub platform, we doing some business here you know.”

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READ MORE- 5 Insane Achievements Khabib Nurmagomedov Has Recorded in The UFC

Ferguson replied, We’re Private Contractors Fathead Remember? We Can Smell Ya From All The Way Over Here Lay Of The Sweets Meat Head. Now You Work For Me, BTW You Still Owe Me 200K & 20 Push-Up For The Homeless Keep Runnin’ It’s Tiramisu Tuesday- Champ -CSO- ‘Merica MF”.

From Ferguson’s reply, it looks like he did not forget to take a dig at ‘The Eagle’. However, if Nurmagomedov and ‘El Cucuy’ were to appear as coaches on ‘TUF’, it would be one of the biggest seasons. After all, fans would not want to miss them enduring each other’s wrath.

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Is Tony Ferguson against appearing on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ opposite Khabib Nurmagomedov?

Ferguson recently spoke to Ariel Helwani about his rivalry with the Russian athlete. Speaking about Nurmagomedov and their previous failed matchups, ‘El Cucuy’ said, “I believe when [Khabib Nurmagomedov’s] dad said we were supposed to compete, I believe that. I would love to be able to coach against him in The Ultimate Fighter. …”

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“It doesn’t matter what game we play, it would be cool to go out there, shake the dude’s hand, kinda squash some beef, and move on.”

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Because Nurmagomedov and Ferguson both seem interested in coaching fighters for ‘TUF’, fans have become excited to see them work against each other.

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As reported by ‘MMA Fighting‘, both the fighters were about to first face each other at The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale back in 2015. However, the Russian had to back out because of his injuries. Post this, both were scheduled to fight at UFC on Fox 19 in 2016. Sadly, Ferguson had to pull out because of health reasons.

Watch this story: 5 Times Khabib Nurmagomedov Absolutely Destroyed Conor McGregor at his own game of trash talk

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They were scheduled to fight again in 2017, 2018, and 2020; none of these scheduled bouts met fruition. So it would be interesting to see if they can come together for TUF. What do you think?

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Rohini Kottu

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Rohini Kottu is a Newsroom Editor at EssentiallySports, bringing years of expertise in sports journalism and editorial leadership. With many editorials under her byline, she has worked across combat divisions and is now a key part of the Newsroom team, shaping coverage across the site’s 14 category pages. Her editorial command lies in balancing sharp news judgment with compelling storytelling, ensuring every article resonates with sports fans while maintaining ES’s brand voice. Rohini’s journey and impact were also spotlighted in the Humans of EssentiallySports series, where she reflected on her evolution from rookie to pro in just a few years. Today, she continues to drive newsroom standards by delivering authoritative, reader-first content in an era where authenticity and clarity are more vital than ever.

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Reubyn Coutinho