​After back and forth negotiations between Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov it was confirmed last week by UFC president, Dana White that Ferguson was demanding equal pay as Khabib and neither the UFC or Ferguson was willing to budge.

Ferguson spoke about the matter on the MMA Hour this past Monday, stating “There’s nothing that suggests that Khabib draws any larger than me. I haven’t been given the same opportunities or the same push as Khabib. I don’t belong to AKA or a big major sport’s program. I choose to do different things on my own and I’m building my own legacy, my own facilities, but that’s later on. That’s a completely different subject. So, as far as compensation goes, like I said, the UFC has been known to change it (for a particular fight) over their history, and I’m just looking for them to get this thing going, man. Let’s go. Let’s go, UFC.”

Nurmagomedov and Ferguson are unquestionably the lightweight division’s top two contenders, with Ferguson on a 9 fight win streak whilst Nurmagomedov boasts a flawless 8-0 record inside the octagon. They have both supported the idea of a lightweight showdown with Nurmagomedov tweeting that he would pay Ferguson $200,000 out of his own pocket to make the fight happen.

“You’ve got Khabib f*****g offering (me) $200,000 to fight me. I’m not going to take his money because we work for the same kind of thing.” – “I would offer the same thing. But that’s not what I’m in here for, man. Honestly, we’re both two of the same kind of fighters because we fight for something different. The UFC has a chance to make the most money out of everyone right now. They’re looking at the hugest, biggest demographic in Russia. Well let us fight, man. I’m trying to build my demographic too. Let me work for you guys. Let me work for you guys the way that I have been working, but compensate me the way that I need to be compensated.”

Dana White has said he likes the idea of Nurmagomedov vs Aldo but Ferguson will continue to push for a lightweight clash with Khabib. “Everybody wants to see this fight. Everybody wants to see these fireworks. They want to see that explosiveness. They want to see me throw Khabib on his back and get that five-point motion with this USA wrestling. Because if wrestling was easy, it would be called Sambo, my friend. Straight up, I’m going mop that dude up. I’m going to use his hat for a mop.”

Will we ever see Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Tony Ferguson? Will it be for the interim lightweight championship? Let us know in the comments below.