Tony Ferguson was set to face Khabib Nurmagomedov for the vacant UFC Interim Lightweight Title at UFC 209, then Nurmagomedov fell ill and the fight was called off.
Michael Johnson agreed to step in on short notice to fight Ferguson and he turned down the fight.
I was ready and willing!! To make that title weight for last minute. Unfortunately @TonyFergusonXT declined it. Catch ya around next time!
— Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) March 3, 2017
Ferguson would then take to Twitter as well to give his reasons for turning down the fight:
Respect For Your Willingness To Step In. @Ufc Told Me It Wasn't For The Title And It Was For Less Pay. Willing To Fight You For Right Price https://t.co/cSGspjZUei
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) March 3, 2017
Dana White stated during the Michael Bisping/Georges St. Pierre Press Conference that UFC officials would wait until after UFC 209 concluded to determine what the next steps would be for both Ferguson and Nurmagomedov.
UFC 209 takes place on Saturday, March 4 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson headlining. Fightful will be providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
