MMA Community Reacts To Tony Ferguson vs Khabib Nurmagomedov UFC 223 Cancellation
Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me, fool me three times, shame on the UFC, fool me four times, shame on all of us.
What can you say? Tony Ferguson vs Khabib Nurmagomedov has been cancelled for the fourth time after Ferguson suffered a serious leg injury last Friday,
Here’s how the internet understandably melted as they reacted to the news.
It of course all started with one 280-character tweet from one Brett Okamoto…
BREAKING NEWS: Tony Ferguson out of UFC 223. Max Holloway will step in on six days notice. Holloway vs. Khabib for 155 pound title.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) April 1, 2018
…then all hell kicked off…
WAIT, WHAT, HUH, NO WAY, THIS… THIS IS REAL? THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING?! #UFC223
— Justin Golightly (@SecretMovesMMA) April 2, 2018
It’s signed. Just got done. Khabib x Holloway on Saturday in Brooklyn. 5 rounds. Same belt on the line.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 1, 2018
In January I asked Dana White if the UFC had an insurance policy / contingency plan in case either Tony Ferguson or Khabib Nurmagomedov were to get injured. Before he could even reply Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) took the mic. pic.twitter.com/oM7ORG4pza
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) April 2, 2018
#UFC223 #TonyFergusonMMA SnapJitsu™️ #SnapDownCity ?? ????? pic.twitter.com/Rf4PWg4QXT
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) April 2, 2018
What a blow ! @TeamKhabib vs @TonyFergusonXT is OFF … bizarre injury to Ferguson.. #UFC223
— Gareth A Davies (@GarethADaviesDT) April 2, 2018
#Available pic.twitter.com/Y6aiBU2lNa
— FrontRowBrian (@FrontRowBrian) April 1, 2018
As far as I can tell the UFC is gonna:
Strip Conor of his official belt
Strip Tony of his interim belt
Award the winner of Khabib-Max the official belt?If khabib can't fight, does Max still get to fight for the belt? Is anyone stripped of their titles? Can Frankie step in?
— Danny Austin (@DannyAustin_9) April 2, 2018
*wakes up from killer nap, grabs phone*
“wonder what’s poppin in the MMA wor—“ pic.twitter.com/gRu5lCKJiY
— Jonathan Bradley (@Jon__Bradley) April 2, 2018
#UFC223 pic.twitter.com/VqQDJNZse6
— MMA GIFS (@mma_gifs_) April 2, 2018
. @BlessedMMA on Mar. 2: "I'm just trying to prove I'm the best ever to do it. Not in my weight class, in the world, pound-for-pound. When I think of the P4P rankings, I think whoever's No. 1 should be willing to fight anybody and everybody in every weight class. I'm that guy"
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) April 2, 2018
Sad thing is there are a lot of European #MMA fans tucked up in bed right now dreaming of how Khabib x Tony is going to go down on Saturday pic.twitter.com/OlPEcIXezE
— Jim Edwards (@MMA_Jim) April 2, 2018
"I hope I’m wrong on this one but I just see it falling apart.”?https://t.co/4Fw2GNbTnZ
— Coach Kavanagh (@John_Kavanagh) April 1, 2018
Holloway's got that crazy fuckin immigrant Samurai Hawaii blood in him. He don't give a FUCK! Who fights Khalabeeb ob 6 days notice? Fuckin tremendous
— FrontRowBrian (@FrontRowBrian) April 1, 2018
Since the first UFC PPV event in 2018, 3 straight have lost their main event: pic.twitter.com/mzJEEMh9Ch
— Lᖷ (@FurysFightPicks) April 2, 2018
“This is how legends are made” @blessedmma #believeit #kingmoments #blessedera #represented https://t.co/MAqDNT4li1
— Brian Butler-Au (@BrianButler_Au) April 2, 2018
Max Holloway and Khabib Nurmagomedov will bring a combined 21-fight UFC winning streak into the #UFC223 main event. That's the longest for a single matchup in UFC history.
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) April 2, 2018
ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS SCENARIO:
– Max Holloway fights Tony Ferguson at lightweight for #UFC218
– Max Holloway becomes lightweight & featherweight champion.
– Conor McGregor returns to truly defend BOTH of his UFC titles.
CHAMP CHAMP VS CHAMP CHAMP pic.twitter.com/QtNJzpKVnN— Justin Golightly (@SecretMovesMMA) November 10, 2017
It's not the #UFC223 main event we wanted, but it's still a pretty damn good fight. What can we expect from Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) vs. @TeamKhabib Nurmagomedov?@MMAjunkieJohn takes a look.
How best to cope with the disappointment: https://t.co/YSrwHaqMiy pic.twitter.com/kVYxmFE18b
— MMAjunkie (@MMAjunkie) April 2, 2018
Huge respect for @BlessedMMA for taking this fight ?? #ufc223
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) April 2, 2018
*Opens MMA Twitter* pic.twitter.com/oByl68vEvM
— *Opens MMA Twítter* (@OpensMMATweet) April 2, 2018
You know what’s wild? Not only is Holloway agreeing to fight the undefeated Nurmagomedov, arguably the most dominant fighter in the sport, in 6 days, he’s doing it after suffering a serious ankle injury which forced him out of his own title fight just last month.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 2, 2018
Per @MMAOddsBreaker, Khabib Nurmagomedov is a -505 betting favorite over Max Holloway +365 for lw title fight.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) April 2, 2018
The worst part is missing out on Tony Ferguson’s patented fight week trash talk. pic.twitter.com/gwcMyxySys
— RJ Clifford (@RJcliffordMMA) April 2, 2018
You gotta schedule Tony vs Khabib a fifth time just so they can break the best of five. Two pullouts apiece. #UFC #UFC223
— Hunter Alek Homistek (@HunterAHomistek) April 2, 2018
