‘It Just Wasn’t Meant to Be’- Dana White on Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Tony Ferguson Never Happening

Tony Ferguson lost a unanimous decision against Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of UFC 256. In a lackluster performance, “El Cucuy” was dominated by the Brazilian like never before. Following the fight, many fans and experts were of the belief that Ferguson is past his prime now.

His two fights in 2020 are supportive of that view. Ferguson lost back-to-back fights for the first time in his career. In both the outings, he has looked a shade of himself and was uncharacteristically slow.

It remains to be seen if age is catching up with ‘El Cucuy’ or those were just two bad performances. However, given Ferguson’s form, the remotest possibility of the dream fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov is now a distant dream.

Ferguson and Nurmagomedov have been the two best lightweights in the history of the UFC. The UFC has scheduled those two to fight each other 5 times. But, that bout never came to fruition, much to the anguish of UFC fans.

In the post-fight press conference of UFC 256, UFC President Dana White also expressed his feelings about that. He said, “It just didn’t. It wasn’t from lack of trying. I mean, we put that fight together 5 times. It just wasn’t meant to be. I don’t think about it, I don’t.” 

At 36, with two losses in a hungry and stacked division, it seems unlikely that Ferguson will ever make a run at the title again. However, with someone like ‘El Cucuy’, nothing can be taken for granted.

Tony Ferguson went unbeaten for over 8 years

Tony Ferguson has been the best lightweight on the planet for over 8 years. He put on a 12-fight win streak in the toughest division of the UFC.

But unfortunately, despite dominating the division for almost a decade, “El Cucuy” never fought for the undisputed championship. He won the interim belt at UFC 216 when he defeated Kevin Lee.

Injuries, bad luck, and now form have combined in keeping him away from an undisputed title fight. In the words of Dana White, fans will look back at this and just have to agree that, “It just wasn’t meant to be.”

How do you think that fantasy matchup would have gone along?