Khabib Nurmagomedov punching Michael Johnson (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

Tony Ferguson held out for more money, before he agreed to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 209, and according to the latter that’s because “El Cucuy” knows it will be last bout.

Ferguson and Nurmagomedov will battle for the interim lightweight championship, next Saturday on March 4th. After it was revealed that Conor McGregor was going to take a break from fighting, a Ferguson – Nurmagomedov bout was expected. But, before Ferguson agreed to the the fight, he renegotiated his contract with the UFC. The lightweight contender said he did so on account of his nine fight winning streak.

Well, recently the promotion held a media call in advance of UFC 209, and Nurmagomedov had a different take on why Ferguson held out (quote via MMA Fighting):

“I want to say something,” Nurmagomedov said. “Please, listen. When you UFC asks me, ‘Khabib, you have to fight with Tony,’ I said okay, let’s go. This is what I want, because you have nine win streak, I have eight win streak, we have to fight. And after UFC asked me, you said, ‘please, please, give me money, give me this.’ You tried to run.”

“You know why you ask for too much money?” Nurmagomedov added. “Because you know this is your last fight. This is your last fight in UFC. That’s why. We’ll see March 4th. I’m going to break your face. I’m going to break your career.”

UFC 209 will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.