Eddie Bravo: Tony Ferguson presents different challenge to Khabib Nurmagomedov

Eddie Bravo can’t predict how a fight between lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson would go, but what he can promise is that Nurmagomedov will be tested like he’s never been before.

Speaking on the “Mo Hosani Podcast” during the ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship, Bravo, the 10th Plant Jiu-Jitsu owner and instructor of former interim champion Ferguson (25-3 MMA, 15-1 UFC), says that unlike previous opponents, “El Cucuy” will be on the offensive, when Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC) drags him down.

“With that caliber fight, I don’t make predictions – but we are planning on beating him,” Bravo said. “That’s the plan. … (I) can’t give away too much, though, but the difference is, everybody’s running from Khabib on the ground. So they spend the whole time trying to get up to the fence and trying to get back up. Tony’s not going to do that. Tony’s going to attack, so it’s going to be a little different. He’s going to attack with submissions, and he’s going to attack with elbows. He’s not going to try and get back up.

“He’ll try to keep the fight standing, and do some takedown defense and all that stuff.”

Ferguson is no stranger to adversity in fights. He’s been taken down, dropped and bloodied, but perhaps the most dangerous thing about Ferguson is he seems to get stronger as the fight goes.

And with someone like Nurmagomedov’s drag-down, wear-you-out approach, Bravo says “The Eagle” will have to watch out for all kinds of submission attacks from Ferguson, who’s typically active on the ground. The D’Arce choke has become one of Ferguson’s signature moves, and he’s used it to submit Lando Vannata and Edson Barboza.

“When you’re actually looking for D’Arces all the time, man, it alters your game,” Bravo said. “If you’re going with someone who’s always looking for D’Arces, standing, on the ground, in transition. D’Arcers – you approach them a little differently. It alters your game. Tony is that guy. Tony will hit those things from every angle. While Khabib is trying to take him down, he’s got to watch out for all that (expletive). Guillotine (chokes) – Tony’s going to throw everything at him.”

Bravo admits that Ferguson is in for a very tough fight in Nurmagomedov, which is why he has refrained from making a prediction. All he knows is, the plan is to submit the champion, and guarantees that Ferguson will present a unique challenge for Nurmagomedov, who’s been able to dominate pretty much every fighter he’s stepped into the cage with.

“I don’t know if it’s going to work – it’s too hard to tell,” Bravo said. “Khabib is really, really good. But we’re planning on submitting him. That’s the plan. Hopefully it happens, of course, but I’m not making any predictions – you just can’t know.

“Khabib is undefeated, smashing everybody, but it’s going to be a different fight, though. I promise you that’s going to be different – it’s not going to be Tony trying to drag himself up a fence and Khabib just riding that.”

While Ferguson is projected to be next in line for a shot at Nurmagomedov, there is yet to be a new fight scheduled between the two. They’ve been matched up four times previously, but none of those fights has come to fruition with each fighter pulling out twice.

Nurmagomedov said he’s targeting a return in March, and would like to compete in his home country of Russia. Maybe the fifth time will be the charm.