Tony Ferguson var tidigare tänkt att möta Michael Chiesa under UFC Fight Night 91, men efter att Chies drog sig ur på grund av skada tog Ferguson istället matchen mot Landon Vannata och segrade via submission i andra ronden.
Nu känner sig Ferguson med åtta raka vinster i ryggen redo för en titelmatch mot Alvarez eller ett möte med ryske Khabib Nurmagomedov, som står obesegrad med 23 vinster.
Det här berättade Ferguson om matchen mot vannata och sina plnaer inför framtiden via ”FOX Sports 1”:
We were preparing for Michael Chiesa. So, I think if anything, I was just more prepared for a wrestler and I underestimated his [Vannata] standup, but after just getting hit a couple of times, it’s exactly what I wanted and that’s just the type of fighter I am, and I battled through it, and took some of his hardest shots, and put fear in his face.
All my performances are right there to put me on title contention. This fight was a short-notice fight. I know he wasn’t ranked, but it was a very risky chance to come in there and take the short-notice fight. Props to Lando Vannata and props to JacksonWink over in Albuquerque, but every single fight is there and I’m ready for it. If Eddie Alvarez wants to sign that dotted line, or if he wants an easy fight, go ahead and fight Conor [McGregor], but I’m a hard type fight. I’m not someone to joke around with. And with [Rafael dos Anjos], you haveKhabib Nurmagomedov. I’d love to get that fight against Khabib and maybe we’ll go on The Ultimate Fighter show and put on a show for the fans.
