CONOR MCGREGOR’s comeback fight could be against Tony Ferguson – who claims to have received an offer to coach against the Irishman on the Ultimate Fighter.
Former two-division champion McGregor revealed on Thursday that he’d been offered a second coaching stint on the long-running reality TV show.
GETTYConor McGregor was this week offered a second coaching stint on The Ultimate Fighter[/caption]
REx-interim LW champ Tony Ferguson claims he’s in line to be McGregor’s rival coach[/caption]
Fan favourite Ferguson competed on an won season 13 of TUF
MMA fans immediately began to speculate who would be The Notorious’ opposite number on the show, a role Ferguson claims the UFC brass have offered him.
He tweeted: “I’ve been asked to coach in TUF Against ol’e fathead, or anyone of my choosing if that cake-eatin’ sum’bish’ wouldn’t show.
“Mack. What a vagina. Always ready anytime anywhere, I choose you McKnacker @TheNotoriousMMA.
“See Ewe soon – thee champ.”
Unlike he did with McGregor’s social media post claiming he’d been offered a TUF return, UFC president Dana White has yet to confirm Ferguson’s claim.
Veteran promoter White shared McGregor’s posting claiming he’d been offered the gig again to his Instagram story.
McGregor, 34, coached opposite UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber in season 22 of TUF – which was on by Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Ryan Hall.
Former interim lightweight champion Ferguson, however, is no stranger to the competition.
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The 38-year-old took part in season 13 of the show 12 years ago and was coached by former heavyweight champion and WWE superstar Brock Lesnar.
Fan favourite Ferguson blew through the competition in the welterweight bracket with three straight knockouts to make it to the final.
And he won the tournament and a lucrative contract with the UFC with a first-round knockout of Ramsey Nijem.
TUF coaches, traditionally, collide after the competition – although McGregor didn’t end up facing Faber after their series ended.
But given their long history, it’s more than likely McGregor and Ferguson will indeed throw down in the summer.
Ferguson was last in action last September in a short-notice showdown with the recently-departed Nate Diaz – which he lost via fourth-round submission.
McGregor, meanwhile, hasn’t fought since breaking his leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
Conor McGregor hasn’t set foot inside the octagon in nearly two yearsSPORTSFILE
The Dubliner, however, is fighting fit and champing at the bit to return to the octagon – which he can set foot in after making himself eligible for six months of drug testing unless he’s granted an exemption.
Last October, he tweeted: “I’m going to be back soon, hopefully.
“Early 2023 I’m aiming for. Sometime in that first quarter.
“That will give me a good couple of months [to prepare].
“Once I wrap this up [filming Road House] in a couple of days, get the camp going [for] a good couple of months.
“And get going.”