Ferguson-Dariush fight in works for UFC 262?

Tony Ferguson (red gloves) fights Justin Gaethje (blue gloves) during UFC 249 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Tony Ferguson-Beneil Dariush fight in works for UFC 262 on May 15?

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 3/12/21

UFC veteran lightweight Tony Ferguson (26-5-0) had won 12 straight matches and was set to face undefeated champion Khabib Nurmagomedov last April until the promotion's schedule was derailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, Ferguson will now look to rally back from two consecutive defeats and show he has plenty left in the tank.

ESPN's Brett Okamoto reported on Friday that the UFC is working toward Ferguson facing rising contender Beneil Dariush (20-4-1) at the UFC 262 pay-per-view on May 15. That show has no main event or announced location, and contracts for the Ferguson-Dariush bout haven't yet been signed.

Ferguson, who turned 37 years old last month, lost an interim championship fight versus Justin Gaethje last May and then fell to Charles Oliveira in December. Those setbacks dropped Ferguson to No. 5 in the official UFC rankings for the division.

Dariush, meanwhile, has won his last six matches and is ranked No. 9. The 31-year-old toppled Diego Ferreira in early February and then asked for better competition:

As ESPN's Marc Raimondi wrote earlier this month, UFC boss Dana White wants to hold shows such as UFC 262 in Texas now that Gov. Greg Abbott has lifted COVID-19 restrictions. Thus far, Dallas and Houston are among cities that have reportedly turned White down.

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