khabib has never turned down a fight offered by the UFC. they didnt offer him tony, or anyone else for that matter. Tony has already turned Michael johnson on short notice off the couch at UFC 209, reason being (more money). you tony fans crying that khabib and conor want more money while your guy turns down 2nd tier fights for a few thousand bucks?
tony would have been finished by either Max/Dustin. he gets Knocked down every fight, Anthony pettis tapped to a body triangle by Dustin and was finished by max. but he put tony on his ass with a broken hand.
Tony is hittable and both those guys have way crispier striking than Lando vannata and anthony pettis. they would have finished him 100%.
he knew hes losing and he turned down showing up to his death sentence. he would have missed his title shot either way.