UFC Fight Night 71: 5 Fights for Tony Ferguson

Tony Ferguson made a major statement with his dominating victory over Josh Thomson at UFC Fight Night 71. He’s now pushed his win streak to six while putting together an impressive 9-1 record in the Octagon. Even though the UFC has him ranked outside the Top 10 in the lightweight division, his recent performances call for bigger-name opponents.

With that in mind, here are five suggestions for who Ferguson should face next.

Khabib Nurmagomedov

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Khabib Nurmagomedov has been sidelined for more than a year.

Khabib Nurmagomedov is a huge question mark in the lightweight division at this time.

His recent string of injuries has pushed him down to the No. 3 position in the division, and the undefeated fighter has not competed in over a year. However, his last fight was a victory over current UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos. When he is finally cleared to return to the cage, placing him against Ferguson would be an immediate test for both men.

For Ferguson, this is an opportunity to jump to the front of the line and demand a title shot with a victory. Likewise, Nurmagomedov could cement himself as the top contender if he can pull off the victory. The question is whether or not his frequent knee problems would hamper his movement. If so, the Russian would be in a bad spot against the active Ferguson.

Edson Barboza

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Edson Barboza is a dangerous lightweight striker.

Edson Barboza has a huge upcoming fight against the undefeated Paul Felder at UFC on Fox 16. If he can give Felder his first loss, Barboza will remain relevant within the division. He’s currently coming off of a defeat at the hands of Michael Johnson which hurt his stock at 155. Still, the 29-year-old brings a style to the cage that would fit perfectly into Ferguson’s recent run of opponents.

Barboza is an effective thai boxer that uses violent leg kicks to stifle his opponents. Ferguson used his bout with Thomson to show effective kicking as well, but he used a variety of kicks to do so. These two men are also adept at using combinations within the pocket. In what would be a violent showcase, this fight would immediately add value to any UFC event.

Eddie Alvarez

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Eddie Alvarez is a valuable lightweight opponent.

Eddie Alvarez recently earned his first UFC win at UFC 188 with a split-decision victory over Gilbert Melendez. He’s since been bumped up to the No. 4 position in the lightweight rankings. That position makes him a prime target for the surging Ferguson.

Alvarez uses a very aggressive boxing style to pressure his opponents around the cage. When needed, he can implement takedowns for scoring and position control as well. Ferguson is also a fighter that tends to come forward while throwing a high volume of strikes. It would be captivating to see whose pressure would win out with these two men exchanging blows in the center of the Octagon.

Anthony Pettis

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Anthony Pettis needs a big win to prove he hasn't lost a step.

No. 1-ranked Anthony Pettis is a dynamic striker that lands blows from many different angles. Ferguson uses a very similar style, and that was on full display Wednesday night. Pairing these two men together would be an attractive battle to both mainstream and hardcore fans alike. Their movement and aggressive styles would provide a fight that would not only have immediate ranking implications, but would also have the potential to set Ferguson up as a future contender.

Pettis was recently pulled from his upcoming fight against Myles Jury due to an injury, as reported by Sherdog's Tristen Critchfield. If the former champion can find a way to remain healthy, perhaps he can be the opponent to welcome Ferguson back to competition at some point in 2015.

Benson Henderson

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Benson Henderson is a tough opponent for anyone at lightweight.

Benson Henderson is an interesting opponent for anyone in the lightweight division at this time. The former lightweight champion is in a state of limbo as his career bounces between lightweight and welterweight. If he decides to stay at 155 pounds, placing him against Ferguson would be a true test to see where they both belong in the division.

Henderson is a powerful grappler that has been able to control many of his opponents. His ability to wrestle them down to the ground may not create the most exciting of matchups, but it is effective enough to get the win. Ferguson was able to circumvent many of Thomson’s attempts to wrestle him to the ground Wednesday night. If he could do the same against Henderson, Ferguson would be on a path to earn the biggest win of his career.