UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov believes the winner of his UFC 249 fight against Tony Ferguson should be considered the promotion's pound-for-pound king.

"The UFC never make 12-win streak versus 12-win streak never, ever," Nurmagomedov said Friday, according to TSN's Aaron Bronsteter. "I don't know (if in the) next 10 years they can make this or not ... Some people, like very best people in the game, they have six- or seven-win streak. Now we're talking about 12-win streak (on) both sides. I think this fight is to be for, who's gonna win is gonna be No. 1 pound-for-pound right now."

The pair of 155-pound fighters will finally collide on April 18 in Brooklyn, New York. They've been scheduled to face off four times previously, but each time the fight has been canceled for various reasons.

Nurmagomedov has defended his belt twice with submissions of Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier. He is undefeated at 28-0 and has won 12 fights in the Octagon.

Ferguson is riding a 12-fight winning streak, most recently defeating Donald Cerrone last June.

On the UFC's current pound-for-pound rankings, Nurmagomedov is No. 2 and Ferguson is No. 10. UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones sits at the top of the list.