Former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson is the man to dethrone Khabib Nurmagomedov, according to Eddie Alvarez.

Speaking to Low Kick MMA’s Jon Fuentes in a recent interview Alvarez, who now competes under the ONE Championship banner, believes ‘El Cucuy’ has the striking, grappling, confidence and ‘mystique’ to give Nurmagomedov all kinds of problems and potentially dethrone the reigning UFC lightweight champ.

“I would say the guy with the best chance has got to be Tony Ferguson,” Alvarez said. “I think stylistically he doesn’t mind being on the ground and grappling, where Khabib is dominant and strong.

“And I think Tony has this mystique about him where, inside his head he just has this no quit, willingness attitude – the old school wrestling attitude that allows him to almost go in there with that intangible that’s a really really powerful one.”

Khabib vs. Ferguson has been booked several times in the past but the bout has fell through on four separate occasions, which is why UFC president Dana White is so reluctant to declare Ferguson the next No. 1 contender and challenger to Nurmagomedov’s throne.

Nurmagomedov, 30, is scheduled to defend his lightweight title against Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 on Sept. 7 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Alvarez, meanwhile, is set to take on Eduard Folayang later this afternoon at ONE Championship: Dawn of Heroes in Manila, Philippines.