Khabib Nurmagomedov isn’t a fighter who lives with regrets.

As a lot as he achieved on his option to retiring because the undefeated, undisputed UFC light-weight champion with an ideal 29-0 report, there have been all the time fights Nurmagomedov wished that simply didn’t occur. Maybe the title on the high of that listing is former UFC welterweight king George St-Pierre, who was all the time somebody Nurmagomedov admired and thought of a respectable problem.

The title that most likely comes up probably the most, nevertheless, is Tony Ferguson as a result of he was scheduled to face Nurmagomedov a complete 5 instances whereas each had been competing close to the highest of the light-weight division. Whereas there’s part of Nurmagomedov that needs he received the possibility to face Ferguson, he additionally thought of that struggle a mismatch in his favor, so it doesn’t carry the identical weight with him that it does with followers.

“I really feel a bit of bit unhappy, however on the identical time, I all the time perceive my sport it’s the worst for him,” Nurmagomedov instructed the Encourage Me podcast. “He don’t have wrestling. He don’t have grappling. What’s he going to do with me? How is he going to cease me? Solely probability how he can cease me, it was solely a fortunate punch.

“Like with everyone, like with Conor [McGregor], with [Dustin] Poirier, with Justin Gaethje, everyone talks about, ‘Oh, they’ll cease him if Khabib [going to get caught with] a fortunate punch.’ However different stuff, how’s he going to cease me?”

Whereas Ferguson was undoubtedly probably the most achieved 155-pound contender that he by no means fought, Nurmagomedov all the time felt assured he would deal with that problem like all the others in his profession.

Nurmagomedov solely misplaced a few rounds all through his total UFC run and he simply doesn’t imagine Ferguson had the weapons to beat him.

“When he fought with Danny Castllo, [Beneil] Dariush, Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, all these guys mauled him,” Nurmagomedov mentioned. “He didn’t have wrestling protection. He didn’t have good grappling. My preventing sport, it was the worst for him.”

It’s wildly uncommon for any struggle to get booked 5 instances and by no means really occur, however Nurmagomedov is aware of he and Ferguson each wield some accountability for these cancellations.

That’s one more reason why Nurmagomedov can’t look again with remorse, as a result of in the end it simply wasn’t meant to be relating to this specific rivalry.

“I’m a bit of bit unhappy, however what can we do?” Nurmagomedov mentioned. “If God has some plan, no person can change this. We had been imagined to struggle 5 instances. He pulled out, I’ve accidents, this isn’t underneath my management.

“I really feel a bit of bit unhappy, however on the identical time, [I] confirmed who had what degree.”

Whereas Nurmagomedov retired after his third title protection in 2020, Ferguson remained energetic however has fallen on more durable instances of late. He’s now suffered eight consecutive losses in a row, and all indicators level towards his time with UFC coming to an finish.

Ferguson has hinted that he plans to proceed preventing exterior UFC, however his struggles didn’t cease him from firing again at Nurmagomedov’s suggestion that his solely hope in that potential matchup was a fortunate punch.

“Fortunate punch now … [I] was going to depart you alone however ew,” Ferguson wrote on Instagram. “Simply couldn’t assist it. Ya [fat f*ck]. What a f*cking p*ssy, coward like rooster. Maintain hiding Khabieber 29-1.

“Till additional discover, let ol’ fathead know what time it’s crew.”