Tony Ferguson was set to face Khabib Nurmagomedov for the vacant UFC Interim Lightweight Title at UFC 209, then Nurmagomedov fell ill and the fight was called off.
Michael Johnson agreed to step in on short notice to fight Ferguson and he🍃 tu✃rned down the fight.
I was ready and willing!! T﷽o make that title ▨weight for last minute. Unfortunately declined it. Catch ya around next time!
— Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace)
Ferguson would then take to Twitter as well to give his reasons for ဣturning down the fight:
Respect For Your Willingness To Step In. Told Me It Wasn't For The Title And It Was For Less Pay. Willing To Fight You For Right 🃏Price
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT)
Dana White stated during the Michael Bisping/Georges St. Pierre 𝓀Press Conference that UFC officials would wait until afte🎶r UFC 209 concluded to determine what the next steps would be for both Ferguson and Nurmagomཧedov.
UFC 209 take🧔s place on Saturday, March 4 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson headlining. Fightful will be providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
