Khabib, Ferguson trade barbs in heated press conference
Warning: Story contains coarse language
Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson, who meet at UFC 249 in April, traded verbal jabs at a press conference Friday in Las Vegas.
"(Ferguson) is a real challenge. I respect his skills. He's a very good fighter," UFC lightweight champion Nurmagomedov said. "But why people don't like him is because he's a stupid guy. Nobody understands him. Honestly, he looks like stupid. That's why nobody likes him."
Ferguson interrupted the 155-pound champion, saying he's "very educated," and later blasted Nurmagomedov for his lack of cardio.
"You don't have the conditioning for 11 rounds, it doesn't matter the opponent," Ferguson said to Nurmagomedov, who was talking about a potential bout with former boxing champion Floyd Mayweather. "Dirty Q-tip. Fucking fat. You're about the same size as (Daniel) Cormier right now, dude.
"I can't wait to fucking shut your mouth," the No. 1 lightweight continued. "I'm gonna hit you so hard in your stomach you're going to piss fucking blood, kid."
Nurmagomedov and Ferguson argued over who could win in a street fight. Ferguson said the Russian has never been involved in one and warned him he's "fucking with somebody you don't want to."
The champion felt otherwise.
"Hey, sunglasses, in street fight, I can eat you," Nurmagomedov said. "You understand? Who are you? You never fight - you (are an) American guy. In America, you cannot fight in the street. I am from real mountain. I can eat you in street fight. What are you talking about?"
When asked about how their preparation and strategy has changed since the original booking in 2015, Ferguson said it hasn't and he's not worried about what Nurmagomedov does.
The champ called Ferguson a "little liar."
"You worry about me," he said. "Be honest with fans. You liar. Honestly, you lie. You don't worry about my skill?"
Ferguson then said he thinks he's already in Nurmagomedov's head more than a month out from their highly anticipated clash on April 18 in Brooklyn, New York.
"You're mentally fucked," Ferguson told Nurmagomedov.
However, "The Eagle" assured he never takes any of his fights too personally.
"When you go to the cage, you cannot take too serious, too personal, your opponents, because you have to relax, you have to focus, you have to follow your game plan," Nurmagomedov said. "When I go to the cage, I enjoy with my opponents. I enjoy when I make them tired, I enjoy when I make them tap."