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In late January, McGregor, the reigning UFC lightweight champion, revealed that he was temporarily turning his back on the challenges in the division in order to pursue a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Many, including Ferguson, interpreted those comments as 'The Notorious' ducking Khabib Nurmagomedov and 'El Cucuy'.

Not long after McGregor's stunning declaration, Ferguson began taunting Ireland's first UFC champion by claiming he was scared to fight himself and Nurmagomedov.

And during an appearance on The MMA Hour earlier this week, Ferguson doubled down on his stance.

"That dude ain't going to fight me directly,” Ferguson, the Ultimate Fighter season 13 winner, told Ariel Helwani.

“Conor knows exactly what he’s up against. And he knows I’m a force to be reckoned with.

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“He can’t talk his way through this one. Same thing with Nate, it’s a different scale with me.”

Moment’s before slamming McGregor, Ferguson, who was supposed to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 209 earlier this month, revealed that he’s keen on fighting Nate Diaz.

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“Let’s go, man, I want to go toe-to-toe,” Ferguson said when asked what his message to Diaz was.

“You think you’re good, you think you’re bad (let’s go). You say, ‘Don’t be scared homie,’ I’m standing right here… believe what you say.”