UFC lightweight title contender Tony Ferguson applauds the idea of the UFC sending Khabib Nurmagomedov to the promotion’s Performance Institute. But if Nurmagomedov waits until his next fight camp to get there, Ferguson believes it will be for naught.

“I think wholeheartedly the Performance Institute is a good idea, but if he wants to wait until fall to do that, I think you’re preparing for failure,” Ferguson told MMAjunkie Radio. “You need to get your ass there now.

“Learn how to count some calories and actually give a (expletive) for your weight. I understand he doesn’t need money to fight – then retire. (Expletive) go away, man. You want to fight at 170, you want make a superfight, well we can handle that.”

Ferguson (23-3 MMA, 13-1 UFC) is waiting on his next booking after his pay-per-view co-headliner against Nurmagomedov (24-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) at UFC 209 was canceled when a bad weight cut forced Nurmagomedov to withdraw.

A title fight with champ Conor McGregor is obviously Ferguson’s preference, but McGregor is tied up with a boxing match against Floyd Mayweather. Ferguson said the Irish champ made sure to avoid a confrontation when he crashed the first press conference Tuesday in Los Angeles.

Although his fight with Nurmagomedov has been canceled three times, Ferguson is still open to the idea of an interim title bout with the Dagestani fighter, even if he remains skeptical whether it will happen.

Ferguson called Nurmagomedov “(expletive) lazy” and said of his weight cut, “There is a right way to do it, and I think the old-school way that they’re doing it needs to be upgraded.”

That’s presumably where the Performance Institute comes in. This past weekend, UFC President Dana White said Nurmagomedov will get access to nutritionists and other sports therapists to ensure he’s able to safely make 155 pounds.