Jun 1, 2024; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Islam Makhachev (red gloves) celebrates defeating Dustin Poirier (blue gloves) during UFC 302 at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

mma

Islam Makhachev Reveals His Dream Fight, And It Is Against The Boogeyman Of The LW Division

Islam Makhachev unveils his ultimate dream fight, targeting the elusive "Boogeyman" in his prime in the UFC!

Some of the most intriguing stories aren’t about the fights that happened but the ones that never made it to the octagon. The saga of Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson stands as perhaps the most legendary “What If” in UFC history. These two titans of the lightweight division were scheduled to face each other five times, with each attempt falling through due to injuries, weight-cutting issues, and even a global pandemic.

Now, in an interesting twist, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s successor and current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has made a statement. He revealed that Ferguson, in his prime, would have been his dream opponent.

Also Read: UFC Lightweight Champ Islam Makhachev Opens Up On The Nate Diaz Altercation Backstage

What Did Islam Makhachev Say About Tony Ferguson?

Islam Makhachev recently opened up about his admiration for Tony Ferguson during the latter’s peak. This was the time when ‘El Cucuy’ was on a spectacular 12-fight winning streak that had the entire division shaking in their boots. This was the era when Ferguson was earning his nickname “The Boogeyman” – breaking opponents mentally before physically dismantling them in the cage.

Islam Makhachev says his dream fight would be against a prime Tony Ferguson:

“Tony in that moment was a very good athlete, very good fighter.”

🎥 @adinross #UFC311 #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/Z4vK9idnPC
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 12, 2025

His unconventional training methods, like throwing medicine balls off his abs or dancing around poles, made everyone question his sanity. However, nothing could make them question his results. Makhachev’s interest in facing that version of Ferguson adds a fascinating layer to the historical story.

“Khabib was supposed to fight Tony Ferguson like 5 times, they both have injuries and 5 times the fight is canceled… My dream to fight this guy at that moment… Tony in that moment was a very good athlete, very good fighter,” said Makhachev via an interview with Adin Ross.

The timing of Islam Makhachev’s revelation comes during the twilight of Ferguson’s career. The landscape of the lightweight division has shifted dramatically in recent years. While Ferguson has unfortunately fallen into an eight-fight losing streak, Makhachev has risen to become one of the most dominant champions in the UFC. He has already notched three successful title defenses.

But Islam Makhachev isn’t just dwelling on dream matches from the past. He is actively planning his future in the sport, and it’s looking increasingly ambitious. He is set to defend his title at UFC 311 against Arman Tsarukyan. If he manages to do that, he will be the first to defend his title 4 times in the lightweight division!

(Image Credit: Joe Camporeale – Imagn Images)

Islam Makhachev

Tony Ferguson

UFC

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!