Why Edson Barboza prefers title fight with Tony Ferguson over Conor McGregor

LAS VEGAS – Conor McGregor has been the target of a fair share of callouts, and considering the dollar signs that seem to follow the mere mention of his name, one can see why.

But one lightweight isn’t all that eager to hop on that train.

Edson Barboza (24-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) meets Khabib Nurmagomedov (24-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 219 co-headliner – one that carries likely title implications.

Longtime contender Nurmagomedov has been scheduled for an interim title bout in the past, and though weight-cut-related issues kept him from it, his rivalry with interim champ Tony Ferguson is alive and well.

Barboza, in turn, has consecutively beaten three of the division’s top contenders in ex-UFC-champ Anthony Pettis, former Strikeforce kingpin Gilbert Melendez and contender Beneil Dariush. By taking out Nurmagomedov, Brazilian could take his spot in line.

Barboza agrees with that general impression.

“If me or Khabib wins this fight, it’s probably going to be the next line for a title shot,” Barboza told MMAjunkie ahead of the bout, which airs via pay-per-view from Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

Easy enough, right? Well, it would be if it wasn’t for the current situation atop the 155-pound division.

Since taking the 155-pound belt in November 2016, McGregor (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) has yet to defend it. That should mean a title-unifier with Ferguson (24-3 MMA, 14-1 UFC), who earned interim honors after beating Kevin Lee, would be the logical next step.

Logic, however, not always applies to the octagon. Sure, the title-unifier could be next. But McGregor could very well end up fighting someone else, or simply taking so much time to come back that Ferguson ends up defending the interim title in the meantime.

Barboza approaches every opponent the same way and therefore would be ready regardless. But given the choice between a likely lucrative appointment with McGregor or a dangerous bout with a man who’s finished him before in Ferguson, Barboza’s choice might not be the most obvious one.

“I’d prefer to fight Ferguson – because it’s a rematch,” Barboza told Brazilian reporters during a Google Hangout on Wednesday. “So, no doubt, if I had to choose – also because, as I said, Ferguson is the real champion.”

All of this, of course, is moot unless Barboza beats Nurmagomedov. And, considering no one’s been able to do that before, that’s certainly a tall order. Add to it that Barboza is mostly known for his striking, while Nurmagomedov has repeatedly nullified his competition with a relentless takedown game and top control, and you have one tricky matchup for the Brazilian muay Thai specialist.

Barboza, however, adds the reminder that he’s got one of the best takedown-defense rates in the division. And, if no other opponent has intimidated him before, why should Nurmagomedov?

“I think that’s one more fight,” Barboza said. “I’ve fought the best guys in the world, and I feel I’m ready. I can beat anybody they put in front of me. That’s one more fight. That’s it.”

To hear from Barboza, check out the video above.

And for more on UFC 219, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.