By Damon Martin

Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov are just 10 days away from meeting in the UFC 223 main event, but before clashing in the cage, the two top-ranked lightweights decided to engage in a war of words during Wednesday's pre-fight media conference call.

Only a few questions ended up being asked of both fighters, as Ferguson and Nurmagomedov were constantly sniping back and forth at each other over the course of nearly 60 minutes spent with reporters.

The first exchange started when Nurmagomdov was asked about finally facing Ferguson after three false starts in their previous matchups. The main event at UFC 223, which takes place Saturday, April 7, in Brooklyn, New York, will be the fourth time these two have been scheduled to face off, but this one is most important according to Nurmagomedov because it will determine who is the best lightweight fighter in the world.

"I hope we're going to fight 'cause this is the most important fight in the lightweight division right now," Nurmagomedov said. "Fight for the real belt in a very big show in Brooklyn."

That's when Ferguson interjected, telling Nurmagomedov the real champion would already be walking into the Barclays Center next Saturday. 

"I've got the belt. I've got the belt already. This is my belt," Ferguson said. "You had your chance to fight for that belt and you missed it. You missed weight. You're gonna face the boogeyman. I'm going to give you one chance to quit, to walk away and f*cking retire.

"F*ck Conor [McGregor]'s belt. My belt is the real belt."

Speaking of the weight cut, Ferguson was constantly jabbing at Nurmagomedov throughout the call while referencing their last scheduled fight in March 2017. 

That matchup was canceled just 24 hours away from the event when Nurmagomedov was taken to the hospital after a brutal weight cut. 

Ferguson hammered Nurmagomedov after that fight was scrapped, and he revved the intensity when he saw the Dagestani fighter eating tiramisu in a video leading up to the card. Since then, Ferguson has used the tasty Italian dessert as a weapon that he tosses at Nurmagomedov repeatedly whenever the subject of the weight cut comes up again.

"I'm actually working out right now as I'm talking," Ferguson said. "What are you doing, Khabib, f*cking stuffing your face full of tiramisu? It's not even Tuesday, dog.

"He's a cake eater. He's a silver-spoon-fed cake eater, and I'm about to take that spoon and beat him over the head with that sh*t."

In response, Nurmagomedov just kept mocking Ferguson by saying he couldn't understand a word the former "The Ultimate Fighter" winner was saying as they were talking over each other on the call.

"I don't understand your English. You talk like stupid guy," Nurmagomedov said with a laugh. "Nobody understands your English. My English better than your Spanish.

"Tony, you funny guy. You stupid, funny guy. Nobody understands you."

As far as the actual fight goes, Ferguson touted several parts of his skill set but nothing more than his boxing, which he believes will be a huge weapon for him at UFC 223.

"Wait till you take my jab. I'm going to make you taste nickels and dimes, son," Ferguson said.

"I hit the bag better than Canelo [Alvarez] and a lot of other people and I hit a hell of a lot harder than all of them." 

For his part, the 25-0 Nurmagomedov answered back by stating he's never been beaten during his entire career much less knocked out by any opponent. He then reminded Ferguson that he's been knocked down seven times during his UFC career and things are only going to get worse for him April 7.

"How you going to break me? I'm unbreakable," Nurmagomedov said. "You lose three times. Somebody broke you three times. What are you talking about? I am unbreakable."