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Dana White unsure where Tony Ferguson fits at lightweight after declining interim spot

LAS VEGAS – Former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson’s career is now in limbo.

UFC President Dana White today said the winner of UFC 236’s interim title headliner between Max Holloway (20-4 MMA, 16-4 UFC) and Dustin Poirier (24-5 MMA, 16-4 UFC) will get the next shot at the undisputed belt, leaving Ferguson’s (24-3 MMA, 14-1 UFC) future uncertain.

“I say all the time: When there’s an opportunity, take it,” White told MMAjunkie at a press conference in support of the pay-per-view event, which takes place April 13 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. “I don’t know where this leaves Tony.

“Tony didn’t want the fight. It’s the fight I wanted (with Poirier). We even tried to make the fight (with Holloway), and he didn’t want it. You can’t make anybody fight.”

Less than three months ago, Ferguson was dubbed the No. 1 contender by White, who wanted to set up a fight with current undisputed champ Khabib Nurmagomedov (27-0 MMA, 11-0 UFC).

But everything apparently shifted when White offered Ferguson, who was stripped of an interim belt less than a year ago, the interim title slot at UFC 236 because Nurmagomedov is expected out until November due to a suspension stemming from the infamous brawl at UFC 229.

White compared Ferguson to that of another ex-interim champ, welterweight titleholder Colby Covington (14-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC), who the UFC president said lost a shot for the belt when he turned down a title fight with champ Tyron Woodley at UFC 228.

“He’s another perfect example,” White said. “He was offered the fight, he didn’t take the fight, and he can come up with a million excuses on why he didn’t. He didn’t take the fight. You were the interim champ, you were next in line for Tyron Woodley, we offered you the fight in Dallas, or somewhere in Texas. He didn’t take the fight, and that’s that.”

The UFC executive pointed to the other interim title bout being promoted at today’s event – a middleweight bout between Kelvin Gastelum and Israel Adesanya – that was booked when undisputed champ Robert Whittaker was sidelined by a serious illness.

“After Israel’s last fight, he said I’m going on vacation with my family,” White said. “He paid for this three-week vacation to go away with his family. We called him and said, we’re going to do this title fight. Do you want the fight? Left his vacation, left his family…”

“Lost money, but some things are more important than money,” Adesanya interrupted.”

“So, he left his family and went back into camp,” White continued. “How bad do you want to be a champion? Do you want to get the next title shot? The guys that are sitting at this table today, they want it, so that’s why they’re here.”

So far, Ferguson hasn’t directly addressed his reported turndown. Earlier this week, he called for a showdown with former dual champ Conor McGregor, who brushed off the request.

For more on UFC 236, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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