On paper and in all of the promotional materials, the UFC welterweight championship rematch between Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson is the main event of UFC 209, but for many of the sport’s hardcore fans, the most intriguing fight on Saturday sees the clash of styles between lightweight contenders Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson. UFC 209 is going down on Mar. 4 in Las Vegas, Nevada, with the main card kicking off at 7 p.m. (ET) on pay-per-view.
Everyone who knows anything about the two UFC lightweight contenders at UFC 209 understands that each fighter has a preferred game plan going into the championship bout. Khabib Nurmagomedov would like to see the fight go to the ground as soon as possible, while Tony Ferguson is widely seen as the more dominant fighter should the fight stay on the feet. But while this is no secret, there remains a slew of intricacies in the highly-anticipated UFC 209 co-main event.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has never been in trouble when the fight goes to the ground in his 24 pro MMA fights. The only time he has been in any semblance of trouble was when Michael Johnson hit him with punches that appeared to wobble him at UFC 205. But Tony Ferguson’s camp warns that the ground is no safe haven for Nurmagomedov, as “El Cucuy” has been notorious for his chokes – either on the feet or on the ground, as noted by Bleacher Report. Whether this threat is real or not, at least against a grappler of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s skills, is one of the more important aspects to look out for at UFC 209.
On the other side, while Tony Ferguson’s creativity and breadth of strikes is seen as a clear advantage, you cannot underestimate Khabib Nurmagomedov’s footwork – a skill that allows him to close the gap, while threatening with punches that also get him close enough to either clinch or attempt a takedown. And if there’s anything fans know about Nurmagomedov, is that if he gets his hands on you, there’s a big chance you’re going to get mauled.
As of this writing, Khabib Nurmagomedov stands as the betting favorite at -175, while Tony Ferguson is listed as a +155 underdog. As per the UFC, you can watch UFC 209 on cable/satellite, TV/set top box and online. The prelims start at 8 p.m. (ET), while the UFC 209 main event starts at 10 p.m.
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