Khabibs' manager is Seriously Concerned for Tony Ferguson’s Well-Being

[clivers]

Khabib will most likely drop out before it happens

 

[HockeyBjj]

Thanks for answering the question. I was curious, too. Shit like this is why I quit drinking a few months ago

Some people can’t handle their alcohol. Takes a certain courage to recognize that and make the changes you may have to. Good for you

 

[DragRacer]

His manager is as colossal a piece of shit snitch and pathological liar as ever existed.

http://realfightstories.com/2015/12/02/real-ali-abdel-aziz/

I got Khabib as slight favorite but his manager sounds corny as fuck. Could Tony face some longer off time after the fight? Sure, it's MMA, bones might break. But the same goes for Khabib. Who's to say my boy Khabo won't eat a knee that breaks his jaw?

But really the "Oh I'm not trashtalking, I'm absolutely serious and concered" routine really doesn't do it for me. Maybe that's just my general disdain for agents shining through.

 

[Alxair]

His manager is as colossal a piece of shit snitch and pathological liar as ever existed.

http://realfightstories.com/2015/12/02/real-ali-abdel-aziz/

Oh yeah I'm aware that the dude probably is a bit sketchy. Funnily enough, not even the worst dude that Khabib is associated with. There is still Kadyrov who by all accounts is an awful human being.

 

[TriangleMonkey]

Hes a little overboard with his worries but if the fights hits the floor as it should it will be a mauling

 

[bunt]

Khabib punched Michael Johnsons face 3 thousand times. MJ still looked okay. I was expecting Frank Mir raspberry pancake face.

Tony can take a beating too.

I think MJ has some pretty underrated durability and has never been stopped due to strikes until Gaehje IIRC. I think he's more durable than Ferguson but Ferguson has more striking variety and much better on the ground.

 

[Bumblebeef]

“I feel sorry for Tony Ferguson, because on April 7th, Tony Ferguson is probably never gonna fight again. I’m concerned for his well-being, I’m serious. I’m not just saying that to promote a fight. I’m concerned for him. I’m hearing some reports — and I respect Eddie Bravo, he’s a legend — I’m hearing that [Ferguson would] accept, he’d be more than happy for Khabib to take him down. And I’ll tell you something, [Nurmagomedov]’s not gonna be a normal human being. He’ll be in trouble. Because if he accepts takedown from Khabib and he will take him down, he will disfigure his whole entire face.”



“It’s gonna be brutal, it’s gonna be ugly, it’s gonna be bloody, because Khabib was very nice to [Edson] Barboza. He was very nice to Michael Johnson. But I’m telling you something, one thing that Khabib is not gonna do, he’s not gonna be nice to Tony Ferguson. My prediction: Tony Ferguson will probably need to take two years off or maybe not come back after this fight. […] The stuff they’re working on — they send me the video every night — f-cking scary, man. I’m concerned about Tony Ferguson, because I think Tony Ferguson is a nice guy. I’m concerned — again, one more time — I really mean it. I’m concerned with Tony Ferguson’s health. He will not be the same. He might not fight again.” — Ali Abdel-Aziz speaking to MMA Fighting.

As hard as it is to believe, Khabib Nurmagomedov was being nice to Edson Barboza and Michael Johnson. He evenly openly talked about it. Who can forget him telling Johnson to give up and speaking later how he didn’t jerk his arm, afraid he’d break it. It won’t be like that against Tony Ferguson. We’ll be seeing Khabib at his most angry and his most violent. Of course, durable and game El Cucuy won’t back down from the challenge and will look to slice the Russian with elbows while trying for submission after submission. UFC 223 can’t get here soon enough.

http://data:image/jpeg;base64,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

Mario Yamasaki as a referee for this fight pls lol

 

[MacGregor]

Not a fan of this guy. Betting Tony makes him eat his words, whatever they were.

 

[ArtOfDrowning]

That dude is such a clown

 

[ultramanhyata]

Well is your problem if you failed to see that Khabib could have finished that fight

Only if I was watching the fight through your fanboy goggles.

Anyone who follows this sport knows that if Khabib had actually been able to TKO Barboza with strikes on the ground within one or two rounds he would have been seen as 10 times the monster he was following that lopsided decision.

 

[Dbreiden83080]

He will miss weight again.

 

[Dbreiden83080]

It was pretty low. He got drunk and was play wrestling with another contestant, then suddenly a switch flipped on Tony for no reason and he got dead serious threw the guy into a coffee table and shoved a forearm across his face.

Other fighters came in asking if he was good, and Tony started ripping into the guy not having custody of his son and saying the kid was better without him. Something like that. Pretty damn low thing to go to when from what it looked like he wasn’t even antagonized to get there

Just a royal class drunk asshole moment on a very sensitive issue

That was a long time ago and anytime you get a bunch of guys in a room with a shit load of alcohol that can happen. Let it go.

 

[HockeyBjj]

That was a long time ago and anytime you get a bunch of guys in a room with a shit load of alcohol that can happen. Let it go.

Someone asked what it was. I even said it was simply a drunk asshole moment. I couldn’t care less anymore and pretty sure I saw him apologize and seem very embarrassed by his behavior on the show so it’s whatever now

 

[bigconan]

So what you're telling me is Michael Johnson, who is an unranked LW is better than the interim champion?

Didn't Khabib arguably lose to Tibau?

lol wut?

But Tony actually did lose to johnson though...

 

[Cindynice420]

Maybe khabib should not train so hard
Prob gonna get injury soon again

 

[Meathead Jock]

The statement is a bit repetitive but I sense some genuine concern.

Not an ounce of genuineness in that statement.

 

[Senkoy]

Is he not aware a referee will be there?

 

[JayJayFrench]

That was a long time ago and anytime you get a bunch of guys in a room with a shit load of alcohol that can happen. Let it go.

You sound like a drunk asshole who likes when other people let things go.

 

[ufcfan4]

Not Nice Khabib > Healthy Shogun > France-less Ngannou > Chuck with that look in his Eyes > Motivated Penn


Also I would love to have Khabib's manager as my hype man. That was some damn good pre-fight hyperbole.

 

[ufcfan4]

I wouldn't be surprised if Ferguson beats Khabib to be honest, gonna be a good fight, odds should be 50/50 in my opinion.

I'm not even gonna react to the statements from his manager, it's hype to sell the fights, that's all

It's a great fight. The two match up well together. Ferg is ultra comfortable fighting off his back but Khabib is a nightmare when he's on top. Ferguson gets tagged standing, but Khabib tends to come forward very aggressively, often looking like he is leaving openings that a seasoned striker could exploit.

In the standup, I feel they both can find success though I feel that type of matchup would favor Tony particularly as the fight goes deep. Khabib's tendency to fight forward might catch Tony with some aggressive shots but they will mainly be utilized for closing the gap and initiating the takedowns.

In the grappling, you have Tony's great positional awareness and ability to initiate sweeps and transition against Khabib's top control and relentless pressure/ground and pound. The thing I envision is Tony getting put on his back, getting stifled, and eating a bunch of shots in the earlygoing of this bout. But if we know anything about Ferguson, it's that he can endure a lot of damage and come back strong. Khabib's style would make me very confident in picking him in a three rounder over Tony. However, in a five-round fight, Tony's ability to pour it on down the stretch, his strong conditioning could prove very important. If Khabib struggles to find the takedowns in the championship rounds, Tony is going to go after him, push the pace, and try to make Khabib wilt under the pressure.

Very close fight on paper. The questions I'd wonder

1- Can Khabib do enough damage in the first couple of rounds that Tony is ineffectual later in the fight?
2- Will Khabib be able to hang with Tony in the later stages of the fight?
3- Can either of them manage a finish? Both seem ultra tough and difficult to stop.

My first assumption would be a competitive decision. I might lean toward Ferg by split or narrow UD.