SHOE-IN
Ferguson works out in jeans and shoes ahead of Khabib fight as UFC chief promises fight will happen ‘whatever it takes’
TONY FERGUSON kept up his traditional unorthodox training methods as he worked out in jeans and shoes as he prepares to face Khabib Nurmagomedov next month.
The 36-year-old American is famed for his gym regimes with fellow UFC fighter Jeremy Stephens previously recalling how the two have trained for up to SIX HOURS straight.
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And in his latest training clip, 'El Cucuy' aggressively flips a jump box before performing some grappling manoeuvres.
Ferguson finds himself preparing to face unbeaten UFC lightweight champion Nurmagomedov, 31, for the fifth time, with the two sharing a plagued past with four bouts between the two previously cancelled.
But they face by far their greatest crisis to date as the coronavirus pandemic sweeps the globe with over 9,000 deaths worldwide.
It has seen major sporting events around the world axed or postponed, with the UFC's next three Fight Night events canned.
However, UFC president Dana White insists the fight between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson WILL go ahead but almost certainly not in the US with mass gatherings and air travel restricted by President Donald Trump.
Still, promoter White insists they will do "whatever it takes" to define all odds and stage the pay-per-view event.
He said: “This fight’s going to happen.
"No crowd, whatever it takes. Probably not even going to be in the United States, but this fight’s going to happen.
“This is what we do. We put fights on every weekend. The fighters want to fight. The fans want to see it.
"I’ve had nothing but positive feedback from the fans and the fighters. These guys all want to continue. So we will.”
“These three fights are postponed, they will still happen and Khabib-Tony is on for the original date. We’re going to keep fighting.”
Nurmagomedov's trainer Javier Mendez confirmed he has closed his San Diego gym for Khabib to train privately.
And he claims moving UFC 249 to Abu Dhabi "makes sense" with no deaths relating to COVID-19 recorded in the UAE but it would all depend on securing emergency air travel.
Mendez told SunSport: “It's very strange, we’ve had to cut it to less than eight people in the gym. It’s been tough. The gym has been closed down and only Khabib’s crew are still training.
“Khabib just wants to fight. We haven’t discussed fans or no fans. But personally speaking, with what’s going on, it’s going to be one of the biggest pay-per-views of all time.
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“I don’t know where the fights will take place, but I know Dana is keeping on to the Khabib vs Tony fights, because that’s further ahead, it’s almost four and a half weeks away.
“It still has some breathing room and time to maneuver. Can it go overseas? Possibly, but it all depends on the air flights, Trump might just put a ban on all flights.
“I do see a probable scenario, like Khabib’s father said, and that’s fighting in Abu Dhabi. We haven’t been prepared for it but if that’s where it goes it makes sense."
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