The UFC almost when a completely different direction.

It’s been well documented by now that UFC President Dana White confirmed this week that interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson would fight title contender Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 223.

In the past, it appeared that the MMA gods did not want Nurmagomedov and Ferguson to fight each other despite the interest from fight fans across the world wanting to see that fight happen.

After a third attempt, they did not fight each other. Nurmagomedov and Ferguson’s highly-anticipated lightweight match-up was scrapped when Nurmagomedov was rushed to the hospital the day before the weigh-ins prior to the March 4, 2017 UFC 209 pay-per-view (PPV) event.

He was unable to compete in his scheduled interim lightweight title match in the co-main event, which was dubbed as the people’s main event.

Now, the promotion has made it for the fourth time and fight fans are hoping that they actually fight each.

The promotion wanted Ferguson to fight UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor, according to the interim champion who revealed the news at Friday’s UFC 25th Anniversary Series press conference from Boston (transcript courtesy of LowKick MMA).

“Well they offered me Conor; Conor didn’t want to fight. So I wanna fight people that actually wanna sit there and fight, I’m not gonna beg somebody to go there and fight.

“This is the real belt; I’ve fought 10 fights. You guys all watched ’em. If not, you’re a casual. Go watch my fights, you’ll see exactly why I have this belt. I am the champ.”

“Conor McNuggets is nothing, he’s lost his sauce. And this is defend or vacate. This is, right here, I’m defending my belt. My belt, I’m defending.”

“I have no update. The winner of Khabib-Ferguson will be the champion. They’re going to fight for the real title. This is the real title. I said that Conor can’t hold up the title for two years.”

As seen in the past, McGregor usually gets what he wants when he demands it. McGregor has not been seen in the world famous Octagon since last November at UFC 205 when he won the lightweight title from Eddie Alvarez.

McGregor then fought in a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather.

UFC 223 is slated to take place on Saturday, April 7 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The main card will air on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET while the preliminary card will air on FOX Sports 1 at 8 p.m. ET and the promotion’s streaming service, UFC Fight Pass.