Khabib Nurmagomedov had to wait two long years crammed with injuries for his Octagon comeback at UFC on FOX 19, a comeback that is in serious jeopardy since opponent Tony Ferguson pulled out of the fight with a lung injury. Ferguson’s manager Audie Attar has since expressed that Nurmagomedov should just have a little more patience and wait for Ferguson to get well and return.
“(The injury) sounds scary, but it’s not like, ‘Whoa, you’ve gotta stop fighting, this is detrimental to your long-term health’,” Attar said at a media day in L.A.. Doctors have diagnosed a fluid in Ferguson’s lung, most likely blood. A condition that can stem from “something physical or respiratory infections”, Attar explained. Ferguson now hopes to get back to normal health by UFC Fight Night 88 on May 29 in Las Vegas, where he still wants to fight Nurmagomedov.
“I think it makes the most sense for Khabib to wait,” Attar said. “I understand he hasn’t fought in a while, so there’s economic pressure on him. I respect that. If it was like months, I would say that would be a decisive factor.”
A fight between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson was already scheduled for the TUF 22 Finale last December, but back then it was Nurmagomedov who had to pull out with an injury. Rumor has it that Donald Cerrone might jump in now to save the day, a fight that would take place at 170-pounds. Nurmagomedov tweeted, however, that Cerrone has also pulled out with an injury, only hours after he signed the contract. Cerrone already declined the injury.
No official opponent has been named for the injury-plagued Dagestani.
(Transcription via MMA Fighting)
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