Tony Ferguson (right) (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

Dana White has said that after Khabib Nurmagomedov and Max Holloway start fighting Saturday, Tony Ferguson will no longer be the interim lightweight champ, and “El Cucuy” clearly doesn’t agree with that decision.

Ferguson was supposed to fight Nurmagomedov for the undisputed title at UFC 223, but has been forced out of the contest, due to a knee injury. While announcing that Holloway was stepping in for Ferguson, White also told ESPN that Holloway – Nurmagomedov would crown a new champion, and that no other titles would remain.

Since then, Ferguson appeared on “The MMA Hour”, and when asked about White’s comments, the dangerous fighter said this (quote via MMA Fighting):

“I haven’t spoken with the UFC yet about what’s next,” Ferguson said. “So when I saw what was in the [ESPN] interview, it shocked me, man, it hurt me even more. It was something I couldn’t control with this injury. This all started snowballing this weekend, man. Of all weekends. The UFC hasn’t said anything to me about my title going away, and I don’t think it will go away.”

“You shouldn’t strip a champion due to a freak injury that happened during a UFC-obligated media event.”

Ferguson won the interim title in October, by submitting Kevin Lee in the third round.