Islam Makhachev: The Man Who Almost Replaced Khabib Against Tony Ferguson—What Really Happened?

For years, MMA fans were desperate to witness Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson, a fight that seemed destined to happen but was cursed from the start. Booked and canceled an unbelievable five times, the legendary matchup was MMA’s greatest “what if” scenario.

But what many don’t know is that Islam Makhachev, Khabib’s protégé, once stood on the verge of replacing his mentor to face Ferguson. Was this a simple backup plan, or was it a glimpse into a hidden rivalry between Khabib and Islam?

Now that Makhachev has risen to become the undisputed UFC lightweight champion, his ties to Khabib and Ferguson’s legacy have become even more intriguing. Was Islam always meant to take Khabib’s place? Or was he trying to step out of his mentor’s shadow before the world even realized it?

Let’s uncover the mysterious, overlooked story of how Islam Makhachev nearly fought Tony Ferguson and what it means for his legacy today.

The Fight That Never Happened: Khabib vs. Tony’s Cursed Legacy

Why Was Khabib vs. Tony So Special?

For years, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson were seen as the two most dominant forces in the lightweight division. Khabib, with his relentless Dagestani wrestling, had rag-dolled every opponent in his path. Ferguson, with his unorthodox striking, endless cardio, and brutal submissions, seemed to be the perfect counter to Khabib’s style.

The fight was booked five times (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020), and each time, fate intervened. Injuries, weight-cutting issues, and even a global pandemic ensured that MMA’s most anticipated fight would never happen.

But in 2020, when Khabib was forced to withdraw from UFC 249 due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, an unexpected name surfaced: Islam Makhachev.

Islam Makhachev Steps Up—A Replacement or a Statement?

With Khabib stuck in Russia, the UFC scrambled to find a replacement for Tony Ferguson. At first, the promotion pushed for Justin Gaethje, who eventually stepped in and delivered a career-defining performance, stopping Ferguson in brutal fashion.

But behind the scenes, Islam Makhachev was also considered as a potential replacement for Khabib.

Why? Because Makhachev wasn’t just another fighter—he was Khabib’s hand-picked successor, trained in the same wrestling-heavy, pressure-based fighting style. If anyone could mimic Khabib’s approach and test Ferguson’s weaknesses, it was Islam.

But this raised one of the biggest questions in Makhachev’s career:

• Was Islam truly ready to fight Ferguson at that time?
• Or was he merely a backup for Khabib, expected to follow in his footsteps rather than forge his own path?

At the time, Islam was still climbing the lightweight ranks, not yet considered championship material. But the fact that he was even mentioned as a potential replacement for Khabib spoke volumes about how highly the UFC and the Dagestani team viewed him.

Did Khabib see Islam as the future of the division even before he retired? Or was Islam already secretly preparing to step out of Khabib’s shadow?

The Evolution of Islam Makhachev: From Khabib’s Shadow to Lightweight King

The Rise of a New Dagestani Champion

When Khabib retired in 2020, many wondered if the Dagestani dominance in the lightweight division would fade. But Islam Makhachev had other plans.

Under the guidance of Javier Mendez and Khabib himself, Islam sharpened his game, evolving into a fighter who mirrored Khabib’s style but added his own technical improvements.

• While Khabib was known for his relentless pressure, Islam developed a more strategic and patient wrestling game.
• While Khabib focused on overwhelming opponents, Islam worked on precision striking and slick submissions.
• Khabib never lost a fight, but Islam had a single blemish early in his career—an experience that made him even more dangerous.

By 2022, Islam proved he was more than just Khabib’s student—he was a champion in his own right. His dominant victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 cemented his status as the new lightweight king.

Was Islam Always Destined to Replace Khabib?

Looking back, it’s almost as if Islam was being prepared for this exact moment all along.

• He was trained by Khabib’s father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, who always believed Islam would carry the torch after Khabib.
• He was constantly compared to Khabib, with fans and analysts questioning if he could live up to the impossible standard set by his mentor.
• He was nearly chosen to fight Tony Ferguson, which would have allowed him to face the one opponent Khabib never got to fight.

Could this have been the original plan all along? Was Islam meant to be Khabib’s successor years before we realized it?

The Ultimate What-If: Islam vs. Tony – A Fight That Still Could Happen?

Would Islam Have Beaten Ferguson in 2020?

If Islam had stepped in against Ferguson at UFC 249, would he have won?

At the time, Tony Ferguson was still one of the most dangerous lightweights in the world. His relentless forward pressure, unpredictable striking, and legendary toughness made him an incredibly difficult puzzle to solve.

However, we’ve seen that Ferguson’s biggest weakness has always been elite wrestlers.

• He struggled against Kevin Lee before securing a submission.
• He was dominated by Charles Oliveira’s grappling in 2020.
• Beneil Dariush controlled him with wrestling in 2021.

Had Islam faced him in 2020, the fight likely would have played out similarly to Ferguson vs. Oliveira—Makhachev would have used his wrestling to neutralize Tony’s wild striking, slowly breaking him down over time.

In hindsight, Islam may have been a nightmare matchup for Tony, possibly ending Ferguson’s legendary winning streak even before Justin Gaethje did.

Could Islam and Tony Still Fight Today?

While Ferguson is no longer in his prime, MMA is unpredictable. If Tony were to pull off a few wins, could we still see him challenge Islam?

Even if the fight no longer holds the same stakes, it would still be a battle of two worlds colliding—Dagestani wrestling vs. El Cucuy’s chaos.

And, of course, it would bring the Khabib vs. Tony rivalry full circle, in a way no one expected.

Final Verdict: Islam’s Destiny Was Always Bigger Than One Fight

Looking back, Islam Makhachev’s near-fight with Tony Ferguson was more than just a backup plan.

It was a sign of what was to come—the next great lightweight champion was already being prepared before the world even realized it.

Today, Islam stands as Khabib’s rightful heir, the new dominant force in the lightweight division. But his journey could have taken a very different path had he faced Tony Ferguson at UFC 249.

Was Islam’s rise always preordained? Or did he carve out his own path, proving that he was more than just Khabib’s successor?

One thing is for certain: Islam Makhachev was always meant to be great. And whether he faced Tony Ferguson in 2020 or not, his destiny was never in doubt.

Would you still want to see Islam vs. Ferguson today? Or was this just another fight lost in the sands of MMA history? Let the debate begin.