For the fourth time, the UFC has booked top-ranked lightweights Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson for a fight. 

The two are scheduled to face off in the main event of UFC 223 at the Barclays Center in New York City on April 7 for the lightweight championship in what promises to be one of the best 155-pound fights in recent memory. 

During a recent interview with Submission Radio, American Kickboxing Academy coaches Javier Mendez and Bob Cook — two of Nurmagomedov's trainers at the San Jose, California-based gym — discussed the upcoming bout and whether they think both men will be able to make the walk to the Octagon this time around. 

“Well, I just like thinking positive, and the fight's going to happen," Mendes said. "That's the way I look at it. I don't want to think anything negative. It's all good. Khabib is in the best shape ever — mentally [and] physically, he's improved the most he ever has. So expect fireworks and expect Tony to get crushed. Sorry to say it, but that's going to happen." 

Mendez then gave Ferguson his due credit. 

"Tony will fight. He's a great fighter, man. Tony's a warrior, you know?" he said. "But Khabib's a different animal. We'll see come fight night. Of course we're biased. We're Khabib's guys. But you can't discount Tony, man. Ten-fight win streak? Come on. He's incredible. He's an incredible fighter, inside and out. He's a good talker too. He likes talking it up pretty good. I'm a fan of his. 

"We gotta fight him, but that doesn't mean I can't be his fan. I'm a fan." 

The two men were initially set to face off at "The Ultimate Fighter 22" finale, but Nurmagomedov withdrew with a rib injury. It was rescheduled for UFC on FOX 19 before Ferguson pulled out with an injury of his own.

At UFC 209, it finally looked as though the two contenders would face off, before Nurmagomedov was hospitalized due to weight-cutting complications. 

The matchup is a long time coming, and when the two face off, Cook is confident Nurmagomedov will get the job done. 

"I think it's not about Khabib," Cook said. "I think it's more about what Tony's going to do to stop Khabib. I think it's pretty clear what Khabib's going to do." 

While the winner will have his hand raised inside the Octagon and a belt placed around his waist, one figure will loom large over the event: Conor McGregor. 

The lightweight champion has been out of action since November 2016, and no one seems to know when or if he will return. 

Because of that, there has been speculation about whether he will be stripped of the title and if the winner of Nurmagomedov-Ferguson will become the promotion’s undisputed champ. 

"It's clear to us. It's for the real title," Mendez said. "It's just the way it's worked out. It's a situation where nobody's the champion. Tony's not the champion. Khabib's not the champion. Conor won't be the champion either. It's going to be for that title. It's legit." 

If things go as planned for Nurmagomedov and he leaves the arena with the title, the ball will be in McGregor’s court as to whether there is an eventual bout between the two. 

"Hopefully he gets the opportunity to face Conor and settle any kind of dispute,” Mendez added. “You know Conor's going to talk because that's what he does. But Khabib's a man of action, so I'd like to see him get a chance."

Nurmagomedov and Ferguson's bout is serving as the co-main event of UFC 223 alongside Rose Namajunas making her first title defense against former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

By Josh Sanchez