TONY FERGUSON WILL have to wait a little longer if he’s to earn a shot at the UFC lightweight title, while recently-dethroned champion Rafael Dos Anjos won’t be given an immediate opportunity to regain the belt either.
The pair — ranked #3 and #2 respectively in the 155lbs division — will meet in the main event of the TUF Latin America Finale in Mexico City on 5 November, the UFC has confirmed.
Ferguson (21-3) called for a title shot last month after submitting Lando Vannata to extend his winning streak to eight fights. Six days earlier, Dos Anjos (25-8) lost the lightweight belt when he suffered a first-round TKO loss to Eddie Alvarez.
The meeting of Ferguson and Dos Anjos would appear to pave the way for Khabib Nurmagomedov (23-0) to be Alvarez’s first challenger, with the undefeated Dagestani fighter referencing “rumours about my title fight” on Instagram last night.
Despite being plagued by injuries, Nurmagomedov is the number one contender in the lightweight division. However, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that the UFC might wait for the outcome of the rematch of Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz before deciding on who should face Alvarez in his first title defence.
Alvarez has made no secret of his desire to put his belt on the line against McGregor, who was scheduled to face Dos Anjos for the lightweight title back in March until the Brazilian withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Diaz in the UFC 196 main event.
Diaz, who submitted McGregor in the second round of that bout, is currently ranked fourth in the lightweight division.
