Tony Ferguson became the UFC Interim Lightweight Champion when he submitted Kevin Lee in the third round of their main event fight at UFC 216.
Audie Attar is the manager for both Ferguson and UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor, but he feels that Ferguson has earned his opportunity to fight McGregor.
“No, I can’t say [who McGregor will fight next]. Here’s what I will tell you, Tony earned a shot at the belt. He won the interim lightweight title. Conor doesn’t shy away from a challenge. The Nate fight does make sense, obviously, because of the trilogy, they never fought at 155, but they both make sense in their own respective way. However, I do believe that when [McGregor and Ferguson] go at it, it will, in my opinion, validate the belt system. It will validate what a championship belt is all about,” Attar said on Believe You Me.
McGregor hasn’t competed on the Octagon since he defeated Eddie Alvarez to win the UFC Lightweight Title at UFC 205.
Attar also believes that since both fighters hold belts in the division, a bout between them should naturally happen.
“The sport is one where they’re gonna compete. If you have clients in the same weight class and they’re the top of the division, they’re gonna meet. With Tony and Conor, it’s inevitable. You have the lightweight champ and the interim lightweight champ, so that’s a fight that’s naturally gonna happen,” says Attar.
Owen Roddy is the longtime coach of McGregor and he feels the same way as Attar, saying that Ferguson is the next logic opponent for his pupil.
