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#3 - Mind games
Most people underestimate Tony Ferguson's intelligence. This includes Khabib, who has on more than one occasion, referred to Ferguson as a "stupid guy" on multiple occasions.
However, Tony Ferguson has a clear method to his own madness that has worked many times for him. In an interview with Ariel Helwani, he reinstated that he likes to "stay 100% in character", and that he has a mental advantage going into his fight against Khabib.
“I’m in this dude’s head. He’s going to train so hard and he’s going to be so nervous that he’s going to make a mistake. I’m going to capitalize on that. I’m going to catch him during the scramble.” - stated Ferguson in the same interview.
This is not the first time Ferguson has gotten in another fighter's head. Prior to his fight against Kevin Lee, he demeaned Lee, calling him a "kid" and stating that he would "eat [him] for lunch", and that he could finish him with ease.
This trash-talking was successful, and a visibly frustrated Lee succumbed to the hands of Ferguson, who finished him in the third round.
While it remains to be seen whether Tony's methods will work against Khabib, his intelligent mind games are sure to give him an upper hand in the fight.
