Nurmagomedov, Ferguson engage in verbal spat during conference call

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson can't wait to square off against each other at UFC 209.

Both fighters engaged in verbal warfare during a press conference Thursday, where the undefeated Nurmagomedov called out Ferguson for losing to Michael Johnson during a May 2012 fight. Nurmagomedov defeated Johnson via submission at UFC 205.

"You said Michael Johnson was going to kill me,” Nurmagomedov said via Steven Marrocco of MMAJunkie.com. "What happened? I finished him. I could have finished him in the first round. I could have finished him in the second round."

"If you try to take me down, you’re going to find out how sharp my elbows are," Ferguson retorted.

A livid Ferguson promised to defeated Nurmagomedov in the first round.

"Look man, if somebody doesn’t piss me off, I’ll finish them in the first round. This dude pissed me off,” Ferguson said, according to Shaun Al-Shatti of MMAFighting.com. "I'm going to drag him into deep waters and make him deal with the hammerhead."

Nurmagomedov said he's the reason why both fighters are getting paid and vowed to end Ferguson's career.

"You know why you ask for too much money?” Nurmagomedov said. "Because you know this is your last fight. This is your last fight in UFC. That’s why. We'll see March 4. I’m going to break your face. I’m going to break your career."

UFC 209 apparently can't come soon enough.