Tony Ferguson Says He Would Have Beaten Islam Makhachev In His Prime
Tony Ferguson has never lacked self-belief, and even in the toughest stretch of his career, that confidence hasn’t wavered. His latest claim once again stirred debate in the MMA world after he declared that a prime version of himself would have beaten Islam Makhachev.
For many longtime fans, Ferguson’s peak is still remembered as one of the most chaotic and entertaining runs in UFC lightweight history. His pace, cardio, elbows, scrambling and wild creativity made him a fighter no one wanted to face. At the same time, Makhachev’s rise has been defined by precision, control and a dominant grappling style that mirrors the legacy of Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The contrast between their primes is exactly what fuels this debate.
Could Prime Ferguson Handle Makhachev’s Dominance?
Ferguson’s argument largely comes from his legendary 12-fight win streak, where he beat former champions and top contenders with a style that pushed the tempo from the opening bell. His durability, submission threats and ability to fight comfortably in chaos made him one of the division’s most unique challenges.
Makhachev, however, has built his legacy on shutting down opponents before chaos can begin. His positional strength, defensive awareness and ability to control every second of a fight have helped him dominate a division filled with elite contenders. Stylistically, he represents the type of disciplined grappler that historically gave Ferguson problems later in his career.
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But the keyword is later. The Ferguson seen during his prime was not the same fighter who declined after years of damage, injuries and inactivity. That is why fans still wonder what would have happened had Ferguson and either Makhachev or Khabib met between 2017 and 2019.
Even today, Ferguson insists the outcome would have been simple: he believes he would have broken Makhachev with pressure, volume and unpredictability.
Whether that’s true or just the mindset of a lifelong competitor is something fans will forever debate. What’s clear is that Ferguson’s prime run remains one of the most respected in lightweight history, and a hypothetical matchup with Makhachev will always be one of the division’s great “what ifs.”
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