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Tag: Tony Ferguson

  • Ex-Team Khabib Fighter calls Tony Ferguson “1 of the craziest lightweights of all time”

    Ex-Team Khabib Fighter calls Tony Ferguson “1 of the craziest lightweights of all time”

    Tony Ferguson recently snapped an eight fight losing skid at Misfits Boxing 22 and a former fighter out of Team Khabib has weighed in on the journey ‘El Cucuy’ has been on. Khalid Taha, the referenced fighter in question, has also had that training proximity to Luke Rockhold who also competed at MFB 22 although with quite a different end result as he was finished by Darren Till.

    Khalid Taha clashes with Edgar Delgado Jimenez at Oktagon 75 on September 13th and Taha appeared on Bowks Talking Bouts to cover several subjects across the combat sports world. That being said Rockhold’s journey has been a microcosm of sorts for what kind of an exciting time it is to be a combat sports athlete with Rockhold competing in BKFC, Karate Combat, Craig Jones Invitational, and now Misfits Boxing since departing from the UFC.

    Taha admittedly enjoyed the pre-fight build to Luke Rockhold vs. Darren Till but mentioned how he only saw the finish across social media and didn’t have as much direct insights on that particular prizefight. When expressing his thoughts on the characterization that the landscape for fighters seems decently healthy now in the aforementioned regards, Taha said,

    “It’s the same with Tony Ferguson. I like it, you know, because imagine like the new fans when they watch MMA since 1, 2, 3, 4 years [ago], they see like Tony Ferguson as the biggest flop in history, you know. But if you watch UFC and MMA from before, Tony Ferguson was one of the craziest lightweights of all time, you know.”

    Tony Ferguson returning to the win column and the landscape today benefitting the vets

    When further expressing his admiration for Tony Ferguson’s recent win and what this current free agency landscape can provide tenured fighters who still have a name and a desire to compete, Taha continued,

    “And that’s what I like because he [Tony Ferguson] has a long losing streak, has like psych[ological] problems and all the stuff. You never know what happens, you know. And I like it that you have different opportunities now. Different organizations who pay also a lot of money so that you can fight for a living, you know. And it’s very, very good for like the veterans.”

  • “Won A Fight In The Year 2025” – Fans Rejoice, Debate Stoppage As Tony Ferguson Breaks Long Losing Streak With TKO Of Salt Papi At Misfits Boxing 22

    “Won A Fight In The Year 2025” – Fans Rejoice, Debate Stoppage As Tony Ferguson Breaks Long Losing Streak With TKO Of Salt Papi At Misfits Boxing 22

    For the first time since 2019, Tony Ferguson got his hand raised in a fight, as he scored a third-round TKO of Nathaniel “Salt Papi” Bustamante in the co-main event of Misfits Boxing 22, claiming the promotion’s interim middleweight title.

    Ferguson tried to get going with pressure during the opening round, but Salt Papi connected with the cleaner shots. This continued with the second round. There, Ferguson landed more strikes, though Salt Papi notably crack Ferguson with an uppercut and landed a number of left hands.

    Ferguson managed to really pressure Salt Papi during the third round, working the jab and mixing up his attacks while Salt Papi tried to look to land power blows. Ferguson then turned things up, landing a series of strong shots on Salt Papi, prompting the referee to stop the fight — much to the chagrin and protests of Salt Papi and his corner.

    Tony Ferguson Scores Third-Round TKO Of Salt Papi At Misfits Boxing 22

    https://twitter.com/Pizza__Dad/status/1961914567820247264

    Ferguson, who was making his boxing debut, was once considered one of the best lightweights in MMA during his tenure with the UFC, which lasted from 2011 to 2024. Ferguson, who won season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter, went 15-1 in the UFC during the 2010s, which included 12 straight wins and a run as interim UFC lightweight champion. Ferguson’s MMA career, however, ended with eight straight losses, breaking the record for most consecutive losses in UFC history.

    Salt Papi came into this bout with a 6-2 exhibition boxing record, most of which have come in Misfits Boxing. Prior to tonight, his most recent fight came in November, scoring a third-round knockout of Kenny Ojuederie.

  • Misfits Boxing 22 Results & Highlights: Darren Till Flatlines Luke Rockhold, Tony Ferguson Ends Six-Year Winless Drought

    Misfits Boxing 22 Results & Highlights: Darren Till Flatlines Luke Rockhold, Tony Ferguson Ends Six-Year Winless Drought

    Misfits Boxing 22, also known as MF & DAZN X Series 22: Ring of Thrones, took place on Saturday, August 30, at the AO Arena in Manchester, England, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights.

    In the main event, former UFC welterweight title challenger Darren Till delivered a devastating third-round knockout over ex-UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold to capture the inaugural MFB bridgerweight crown.

    Adding to the excitement, former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson secured his first win in six years, ending a historic eight-fight losing skid in the UFC, with a third-round TKO victory over Salt Papi for the MFB interim middleweight title.

    Additionally, the Misfits Boxing 22 card featured a rare MMA clash as the controversial Dillon Danis made his long-awaited return to competition after more than six years, submitting Warren Spencer via a 15-second guillotine to capture the inaugural MF MMA light heavyweight championship.

    Misfits Boxing 22 Results

    Main Card

    • MFB bridgerweight title: Darren Till def. Luke Rockhold via knockout (R3, 1:08)
    • Interim MFB middleweight title: Tony Ferguson def. Salt Papi via (R3, 2:43)
    • MF MMA light heavyweight title: Dillon Danis def. Warren Spencer via submission (guillotine) (R1, 0:15)
    • Joey Essex def. Numeiro via majority decision (37-37, 38-36, 39-37)
    • MFB super middleweight title: Ty Mitchell def. Sean Hemphill via split decision (98-95, 95-96, 96-94)
    • MFB heavyweight title: Chase DeMoor (C) def. Natan Marcon via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) (R2, 0:52)
    • Rahim Pardesi def. Amadeusz Ferrari via TKO (R4, 1:05)

    Preliminary Card

    • Amir Anderson def. Vitor Siqueira via KO (R5, 0:55)
    • MFB women’s lightweight title: Carla Jade (C) def. Daryn Harris via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46 x2)
    • Demi Sims def. Nadeshi Hopkin via unanimous decision (40-35 x3)
    • J’Hon Ingram def. Banty Singh via TKO (R2, 1:19)

    Misfits Boxing 22 Highlights

    Carla Jade vs. Daryn Harris

    Demi Sims vs. Nadeshi Hopkin

    J’Hon Ingram vs. Banty Singh

    Amir Anderson vs. Vitor Siqueira

    Amadeusz Ferrari vs. Rahim Pardesi

    Chase DeMoor vs. Natan Marcon

    Joey Essex vs. Numeiro

    Dillon Danis vs. Warren Spencer

    Tony Ferguson vs. Salt Papi

    Darren Till vs. Luke Rockhold

  • Tony Ferguson Questions Strength of Salt Papi’s Character Ahead of MFB 22 Boxing Showdown

    Tony Ferguson Questions Strength of Salt Papi’s Character Ahead of MFB 22 Boxing Showdown

    Tony Ferguson is prepared to make his Queensberry Rules debut this weekend but wonders where his opponent’s mindset is at ahead of their Misfits Boxing 22 clash. Ferguson will do battle with Salt Papi for the interim MFB middleweight title on a card headlined by Luke Rockhold taking on Darren Till for the MFB bridgerweight title.

    During an interview with Seconds Out, the former UFC interim lightweight champion covered multiple topics including where he thinks the headspace is at for his influencer boxer adversary Saturday in Manchester, England. Touching on some of the deeper machinations of this matchup set for August 30th, Ferguson said,

    “When it goes into the fight, I don’t think that he’s changed too much in his game. He’s going to use what works for him, which is going to be that southpaw stance in his lead hand and his backhand. So he’s going to be looking to do what he’s going to do, but he’s not going to have his hands full.”

    “It was just him being a [expletive] and not being able to admit it in front of my face. So I talk about character and I’m just a man. When I shook his hand, he kind of shook it like this and I had to show him how to shake it the real way. I’m not an influencer at all, but I go in there and make sure I handle my business. So Saturday night, he’s going to have his hands full.”

    “When you put cameras on somebody, you see the real person come out. This is me. That’s him. So, I’m not him, so I’m going to go in there and do what I got to do.”

    Tony Ferguson and the redemptive path to potentially more interim gold

    Tony Ferguson aims to snap an eight fight losing skid that he has been on from his UFC tenure. After his planned GFL bout with Dillon Danis, who is also on this MFB 22 card, fell through in May, Ferguson is presumably chomping at the bit to just get out there and compete in 2025.

    Salt Papi, government name Nathaniel Bustamante, has put together a 6-1 record on the influencer boxing circuit and has more localized experience fighting in the big gloves than ‘El Cucuy’ does.

  • Why Tony Ferguson Is Calling Himself The Mad Scientist of the Sweet Science

    Why Tony Ferguson Is Calling Himself The Mad Scientist of the Sweet Science

    Former UFC fighter Tony Ferguson has called himself a “mad scientist” ahead of his battle with Salt Papi at Misfits Boxing 22 this weekend.

    In the co-main event of Misfits Boxing 22 on Saturday night, Tony Ferguson will collide with Salt Papi in a boxing match. It serves as the latest in a long line of steps down the ladder for ‘El Cucuy’ who, once upon a time, was widely considered to be the best lightweight in all of mixed martial arts.

    A lot of people genuinely believe that Salt Papi could give Tony Ferguson some real problems given how he’s performed in some of his recent boxing outings. Others, meanwhile, feel as if this is the moment for Tony to prove that he’s still got something left in the tank.

    In a recent interview, Tony Ferguson gave his thoughts on this bout and how he’s approaching it.

    Tony Ferguson looks ahead to Salt Papi battle

    “I’m not worried about anybody else besides that dude. I’m not looking past him, but looking through him. I’m going to go out there and hit him hard. He’s going to try to hit me, I’m not going to be there. This is boxing. It’s a science, and I’m going to be a mad scientist in this one.”

    Ferguson has a loyal fanbase and they’d love nothing more than to see him pick up a victory here. In equal measure, all we can really hope for is that he doesn’t get hurt, and that he comes out of it relatively healthy.

  • Tony Ferguson: No Cheat Codes In The Next Stage Of Combat Sports Career

    Tony Ferguson: No Cheat Codes In The Next Stage Of Combat Sports Career

    Tony Ferguson simply feels like he is embarking on a new path along a pick your own adventure journey and doesn’t necessarily see his boxing debut as some form of side quest. The former interim UFC lightweight champion will clash with Salt Papi under Queensberry Rules this weekend at Misfits Boxing 22.

    During a recent interview with Damon Martin of MMA Fighting ahead of this MFB interim title bid, Ferguson covered several subjects ahead of his fight on Saturday. When touching upon how he perceives this shift in combat sports as he forgoes the four ounce gloves and looks to enter the sweet science world, Ferguson said,

    “I don’t have side quests anymore. This is a brand new [expletive] game. It’s a new game. I’m not looking for the cheat codes. I’m not looking for anything else. I’m not even looking for the walkthroughs. There’s no walkthroughs in this [expletive]. This is interesting to me. It’s like kind of like taking care of the case, putting it back and making sure that it’s like, ‘Oh man, I can’t wait.’ You’re dusting off your controller.”

    “You’re getting all your snacks. You’re getting all your drinks. You’re getting ready for everything. And you’re putting it there and everything’s going to be [expletive] awesome because your preparation is going to be awesome when it goes into it. You’re going to put in the work and you’re going to get exactly what you got on fighting night.”

    Tony Ferguson fires off on those who thinks he should retire

    Tony Ferguson clearly does not have much bandwidth allocated towards critics and recently mentioned that for those who keep compelling him to hang up the gloves. The 41-year-old combatant is riding an eight fight losing skid into this next bout but seems quite confident heading into this Misfits Boxing interim middleweight title clash.

    Discussing some of his detractors in that aforementioned MMA Fighting interview, Ferguson stated [via BJPenn.com],

    “I don’t give a f**k what anybody thinks about me. ‘[Is] Tony Ferguson in his prime?’ I don’t give a f**k. The interest is there right now. It doesn’t matter who the f**ck is going to step in front of me. You could put anybody in front of me come that night. I’m going to go in there and give the best possible version of myself that I possibly can because I’m uncomfortable in practice right now.”

    “The last four to five years, I’ve been comfortable in practice. I’ve been miserable in the fight because I just didn’t want to f**king do it. I’m uncomfortable in practice right now, getting rounds and making myself feel that way so that way when I get inside that ring, I’m going to be comfortable as f**k.”

  • Filipino BKFC Fighter on Salt Papi Beef, Knows “He’ll Beat Tony Ferguson” in Big MFB 22 Bout

    Filipino BKFC Fighter on Salt Papi Beef, Knows “He’ll Beat Tony Ferguson” in Big MFB 22 Bout

    A surging Filipino-Canadian BKFC fighter has engaged in a bit of a back and forth with Salt Papi and also offered his thoughts on the influencer boxer’s next fight against a former interim UFC champion. Chad Lucanas discussed this on Bare Knuckle Bowker ahead of his clash with Tim Tamaki at BKFC Edmonton on August 9th. Later this month, Salt Papi will throw down with Tony Ferguson under Queensberry Rules for the MFB interim middleweight title on August 30th in Manchester.

    Lucanas had previously called out Salt Papi with the influencer boxer eventually blocking the BKFC combatant on Instagram amid their back and forth. When describing his history with the Filipino influencer boxer and also giving his thoughts on the upcoming sweet science showdown with Ferguson, Lucanas said,

    “I thought it was kind of funny, but yeah, I know he’ll beat Tony Ferguson. Like I believe he will because to me like out of all them, out of all those little influencer YouTube f***ers, I think Salt Papi is one of the best like I’ve seen in that league per se. Like to me, he’s entertaining. He’s Filipino. He’s got some skills and I look at it as just like a, you know what, if me and him were to fight, it would be so cool for the culture. Like I feel like it would be such a cool clash because like he’s a Filipino kid that grew up in the UK.”

    “I’m a Filipino kid that grew up in Canada. Also, we’re both southpaws, have nice left hands. He’s not bad. I think the dude is really not bad and outside of boxing, he’s f***in hilarious. But just for me it’s like, I think me and this guy would make such a show if we fought. Like it would be so crazy. It would be so cool for like the whole Filipino culture all around the world. It’d be such a cool clash. But he blocked my ass.”

    Salt Papi did block Chad Lucanas, but the latter quipped “I totally get it”

    When further addressing what he sees as an almost inevitable clash with Salt Papi someday, Lucanas continued,

    “So, I’ll get there though. I’mma get it. No, I’mma get it. Like for me it’s like okay, you block me that, means you know who I am. With a lot of people calling you out on comments, tagging me, tagging you, telling you to fight me, I get it. You looked at my page and was like, I don’t know if I want to f**k with this guy [laughs]. So, I totally get it. But wait till I find you one day in person. I’m calling you out right then and there.”

  • Tony Ferguson Calls Out 110% of MMA Fans Over His Upcoming Boxing Venture

    Tony Ferguson Calls Out 110% of MMA Fans Over His Upcoming Boxing Venture

    Former UFC fighter Tony Ferguson has gone on a rant against those who have criticized his decision to compete in a boxing match against Salt Papi.

    On August 30th, Tony Ferguson will make his return to active competition – but not in mixed martial arts. He will fight on a Misfits Boxing card, and he’ll do so against Salt Papi, who is a pretty popular figure within that sub-genre of the sport.

    As we know, Tony Ferguson will forever be known as one of the greatest lightweight fighters of his generation. He did some wonderful things in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, including going on an amazing 12-fight win streak. Unfortunately, ‘El Cucuy’ ended his UFC tenure by going on an eight-fight losing run, with five of those defeats coming via finish.

    Ahead of this fight against Salt Papi, Tony Ferguson had the following to say to those who have gone after him for this move.

    Tony Ferguson unloads on critics

    “90% of the f***ing comments out there are saying that I’m washed up, I’m old, and I should f***ing retire… They’re saying that because they can’t f***ing do this s*** that I’m doing.

    “The other 20% is saying that Salt Papi is gonna knock me out, so 100% of you bitches are out there hating on me. You know what? That’s more fuel for my fire.”

    He may not be what he once was, but Ferguson seems to be as determined as ever to try and put on a show for the fans.

  • Tony Ferguson To Compete In Boxing Match Featured On Darren Till vs. Luke Rockhold Misfits 22 Card

    Tony Ferguson To Compete In Boxing Match Featured On Darren Till vs. Luke Rockhold Misfits 22 Card

    At 41, Tony Ferguson is set to pen the next chapter of his combat sports journey.

    Ferguson is scheduled to make his influencer boxing debut on August 30 at the AO Arena in Manchester, England where he’ll square off against Salt Papi (real name Nathaniel Bustamante) for the MFB interim middleweight title, Misfits Boxing announced Wednesday.

    The matchup will serve as the co-main attraction of Misfits Boxing 22: ‘Ring of Thrones,’ headlined by a showdown between former UFC standouts Darren Till and Luke Rockhold for the MFB bridgerweight title.

    Till is gearing up for his third outing under the Misfits Boxing banner. Earlier this year, “The Gorilla” picked up back-to-back wins over Anthony Taylor and Darren Stewart. Since parting ways with the UFC in February 2023, where he held a 6-5-1 record, the former welterweight title challenger has focused fully on boxing.

    Meanwhile, Rockhold is set to make his gloved boxing debut after testing the waters in bare-knuckle competition with BKFC in April 2023. He most recently competed at Karate Combat 45 in April 2024, where he earned a TKO victory over Joe Schilling. The former UFC middleweight champion parted ways with the promotion following a unanimous decision loss to Paulo Costa at UFC 278 in August 2022.

    When Was Tony Ferguson’s Most Recent Bout?

    Tony Ferguson was once regarded as one of the most feared fighters in the UFC, having captured the interim lightweight title during a dominant 12-fight winning streak that solidified his place among the elite. However, the tide eventually turned, and he found himself on the wrong side of history, enduring a tough eight-fight skid.

    “El Cucuy” suffered a first-round submission loss to Michael Chiesa at UFC Abu Dhabi in August 2024, marking his final appearance under the UFC banner. Despite the setback, Tony Ferguson never seriously considered retirement. He initially signed with the Global Fight League for a bout against Dillon Danis, but the promotion folded before hosting its inaugural event.

    Tony Ferguson
    Image: UFC.com

    Meanwhile, Salt Papi is a standout in the influencer boxing world, having burst onto the scene with a pair of highlight-reel knockouts. The Filipino-born content creator holds a respectable 6-2 record.

  • Dillon Danis Vows To Retire Tony Ferguson In GFL Fight

    Dillon Danis Vows To Retire Tony Ferguson In GFL Fight

    Dillon Danis has declared his intention to conclude Tony Ferguson’s professional MMA career.

    Danis, boasting an undefeated record of two wins and zero losses, representing GFL’s Team New York, is scheduled to face Ferguson, who has a record of 25 wins and 11 losses, representing Team Los Angeles. The two fighters will clash in a lightweight main event on May 25 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

    Ferguson enters this contest on a difficult streak. He has lost his last eight consecutive matches in the UFC, a record within the organization. His most recent defeat occurred in August of last year, when Michael Chiesa submitted him. This string of losses has led Danis to confidently state that he will “put the nail in the coffin of Tony Ferguson’s MMA career.”

    Danis, initially scheduled to box KSI in a highly anticipated 185-pound match, saw the bout canceled due to KSI’s unexpected illness. This cancellation extended Danis’s period of inactivity, as he had not competed since his disqualification loss to Logan Paul in a boxing match back in October of 2023. 

    His previous MMA contest occurred in June 2019, when he achieved a submission victory over Max Humphrey at Bellator 222. Despite this, the polarizing grappler is confident of his superiority over Ferguson.

    “I’m going to retire Tony Ferguson and bury ‘El Cucuy’ in the same grave as his win streak,” Danis told MMA Junkie in a text message Tuesday.

  • GFL Announces Debut Fight Cards Featuring Ferguson, Danis, Holm, Gustafsson, And More

    GFL Announces Debut Fight Cards Featuring Ferguson, Danis, Holm, Gustafsson, And More

    The Global Fight League (GFL) is set to launch with not one, but two inaugural events.

    On Monday, the GFL unveiled plans for its first two events, featuring seasoned veterans, both set to take place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. The action kicks off on May 24, with a second night of fights following on May 25 at the same venue, with broadcast details and ticket sales information set to be revealed in April.

    The newly launched MMA promotion, which has signed over 300 fighters, including several former champions from top organizations, has introduced a team-based format. The league will feature six city-based teams from around the world, competing in a structured season that culminates in playoffs to crown the ultimate champions.

    In the GFL’s unique team system, fighters earn points for their performances in every fight. A win by finish awards 4 points, a decision victory brings 3 points, a draw earns 2, and a decision loss gives 1 point. However, if a fighter is stopped, their team receives no points for that matchup.

    Fighters from all six GFL teams — Los Angeles, New York, London, Dubai, São Paulo, and Miami — will clash in a total of 31 bouts across two action-packed nights. Additionally, the May 24 event will feature a few highly anticipated trilogy fights.

    Here’s a look at the current lineups:

    GFL Day 1 – Saturday, May 24, Los Angeles

    • Urijah Faber (LA) vs. Renan Barao (SP): bantamweight
    • Anthony Pettis (MIA) vs. Benson Henderson (LON): lightweight
    • Holly Holm (NY) vs. Julia Budd (LON): women’s bantamweight
    • Chad Mendes (LA) vs. Maike Linhares (SP): featherweight
    • Derek Brunson (DUB) vs. Omari Akhmedov (DUB): middleweight
    • Sage Northcutt (LA) vs. Lucas Martins (SP): lightweight
    • Marlon Moraes (MIA) vs. Ray Borg (LA): bantamweight
    • Aspen Ladd (LA) vs. Alejandra Lara (SP): women’s bantamweight
    • Robelis Despaigne (MIA) vs. Todd Duffee (DUB): heavyweight
    • Cat Zingano (MIA) vs. Alexa Conners (DUB): women’s bantamweight
    • Neiman Gracie (NY) vs. Danny Roberts (LON): welterweight
    • Jessica Penne (LA) vs. Joice Mara (SP): atomweight
    • Charles Rosa (MIA) vs. Khumoyun Tukhtamuradov (DUB): featherweight
    • Marisa Messer-Belenchia (NY) vs. Kelly Staddon (LON): atomweight
    • Gleison Tibau (MIA) vs. Alex Oliveira (SP): welterweight

    GFL Day 2 – Sunday, May 25, Los Angeles

    • Tony Ferguson (LA) vs. Dillon Danis (NY): lightweight
    • Ovince Saint Preux (NY) vs. Alexander Gustafsson (LON): light heavyweight
    • Uriah Hall (LA) vs. Douglas Lima (SP): middleweight
    • Paige VanZant (MIA) vs. Randi Field (DUB): strawweight
    • Louis Glisman (LA) vs. Abubakar Nurmagomedov (DUB): lightweight
    • Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (LA) vs. Viviane Pereira (SP): strawweight
    • Alan Belcher (NY) vs. Stuart Austin (LON): heavyweight
    • Thiago Santos (MIA) vs. Devin Clark (NY): light heavyweight
    • Lorenz Larkin (LA) vs. Carlos Petruzzella (SP): welterweight
    • Jimmie Rivera (NY) vs. Cameron Else (LON): bantamweight
    • Natasha Kuziutina (MIA) vs. Jessica Aguilar (DUB): strawweight
    • Phil Hawes (NY) vs. Grant Neal (LA): middleweight
    • Kai Kamaka III (NY) vs. Mike Grundy (LON): featherweight
    • Da Woon Jung (LA) vs. Ronny Markes (DUB): light heavyweight
    • Miao Ding (NY) vs. Josefine Knutsson (LON): strawweight
  • KSI Warns Tony Ferguson: Danis Fight Will Be ‘Dead’ After Damage From Boxing Match

    KSI Warns Tony Ferguson: Danis Fight Will Be ‘Dead’ After Damage From Boxing Match

    KSI warns that by the time he’s done with Dillon Danis, there won’t be much left of him for Tony Ferguson to fight.

    For context, KSI is set to square off against Danis in a 185-pound grudge match in the main event of Misfits Boxing 21 on March 29 at the AO Arena in Manchester, England.

    However, following his sophomore appearance in the boxing ring, “El Jefe” is booked to compete against former UFC interim lightweight champion Ferguson under the banner of the newly launched MMA promotion, Global Fight League (GFL), with the bout tentatively scheduled for May 11.

    On Tuesday, the YouTuber-turned-influencer boxer, who has a long-standing feud with Danis, took to X to issue a chilling message just two weeks ahead of their showdown. His words weren’t just aimed at Danis as they also carried a veiled shot at Ferguson, with “The Nightmare” vowing to punish Danis so brutally that his anticipated MMA return would become an afterthought.

    “I don’t think people understand what I’m about to do to Danis. His fight with Ferguson will be dead. His UFC dreams will be dead. His career in combat sports will finally be dead,” KSI wrote on X.

    KSI and Danis were originally set to face off in January 2023, but “El Jefe” pulled out just a week before fight night without offering a clear explanation. His last-minute withdrawal only added fuel to their already heated rivalry, as they have traded barbs on social media on several occasions.

    “The Nightmare” was last seen in action in October 2023, headlining the MF & DAZN: X Series 10 – PRIME Card against Tommy Fury, where he suffered a controversial unanimous decision loss.

    Meanwhile, Danis made his boxing debut on the same card, taking on KSI’s former adversary and now collaborator, Logan Paul. But the bout took a wild turn when the outspoken MMA fighter attempted to lock “The Maverick” in a chokehold, resulting in his disqualification in the sixth round.

  • Tony Ferguson Explains How UFC Exit Came To Be: ‘Talking To Dana, Hunter, We All Agreed…’

    Tony Ferguson Explains How UFC Exit Came To Be: ‘Talking To Dana, Hunter, We All Agreed…’

    Tony Ferguson’s departure from the UFC marked the end of a long and tumultuous chapter in his career, a period filled with both remarkable highs and devastating lows. After nearly 14 years in the Octagon, Ferguson’s release was undoubtedly emotional.

    His UFC journey began triumphantly, winning Season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2011 and eventually capturing the interim lightweight championship. However, his later years in the promotion were marred by a historic eight-fight losing streak, culminating in a submission loss to Michael Chiesa at UFC on ABC 7.  

    Despite the painful conclusion, Ferguson expressed a sense of acceptance and even relief. He framed his UFC experience as a valuable learning opportunity, emphasizing personal growth and future planning. 

    While he has found peace with his UFC exit, lingering bitterness remains, particularly regarding the circumstances surrounding his interim title. He felt deeply wronged by the UFC’s decision to strip him of the belt after a freak knee injury forced him to withdraw from his scheduled title fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 223.  

    “When I left the UFC, everything was – I hate to say it because I wanted to fight another time – but obviously, even me, I had to be like, ‘I have to excuse myself guys, I don’t want to leave on bad terms,’” Tony Ferguson said on The Ariel Helwani Show. “So, talking to Dana [White], talking to Hunter [Campbell], and coming to terms with it, it was like we all agreed that it was in the best interest for me to move on, and honestly, it was awesome.

    “I have to tell you, I packed up all my UFC stuff, I put it into bags, and it was the hardest f*cking thing I had to do. It was a couple of days where it took time for me to be able to adjust. I put everything in big storage bags, and I was ready to move on. I went into The Ultimate Fighter with the purpose of winning a fat check so I can help my family out, my grandma and everything, and I ended up getting a contract. So, this whole entire process has never been a disappointment, but what it has been is a learning experience of how, one, about how I go about my business. Two, about how I treat my close circle. Three, about how I want to plan for the future.”

    Tony Ferguson has wasted no time in moving forward, signing with the Global Fight League and announcing a bout against Dillon Danis. 

  • Tony Ferguson’s First Post-UFC Fight Set As GFL Announces ‘Legendary’ Dillon Danis Clash

    Tony Ferguson’s First Post-UFC Fight Set As GFL Announces ‘Legendary’ Dillon Danis Clash

    Tony Ferguson is preparing to compete for the first time in 14 years under a banner other than the UFC.

    Last month, Ferguson inked a deal with the newly launched MMA promotion, Global Fight League (GFL), after parting ways with the UFC. His departure came on the heels of a historic eight-fight losing streak that spanned over four years.

    On Friday, the GFL, which will feature a unique team-based format, announced that “El Cucuy” will represent Team Los Angeles, led by UFC Hall of Famer Wanderlei Silva, in an upcoming lightweight showdown against the polarizing Dillon Danis of Team New York.

    However, key details such as the fight date, venue, and other specifics have yet to be revealed.

    Ferguson last stepped into the Octagon at UFC Abu Dhabi last August, where he suffered a first-round submission loss to welterweight veteran Michael Chiesa.

    The 41-year-old Californian once rode the wave of a dominant 12-fight win streak and held the UFC interim 155-pound title. However, his trajectory took a sharp downturn after a grueling war with Justin Gaethje at UFC 249 in May 2020.

    Meanwhile, “El Jefe” has made more headlines for controversies than actual fights inside the cage. Despite being signed with Bellator, Danis only competed twice under the promotion’s banner, securing first-round submission victories in both outings. His last MMA appearance dates back to June 2019 at Bellator 222, where he made quick work of Max Humphrey.

    Danis last stepped into combat sports action in a boxing match against YouTuber-turned-WWE star Logan Paul at MF & DAZN: X Series 10 – PRIME Card in October 2023. The fight took a wild turn when the 31-year-old New Jersey native attempted to lock “The Maverick” in a chokehold, resulting in his disqualification in the sixth round.

    “El Jefe” is lined up to face KSI in a 185-pound showdown, headlining Misfits Boxing 21 on March 29 at the AO Arena in Manchester, England. The matchup was previously canceled in January 2023 after Danis withdrew just a week before fight night without providing a specific reason.

  • GFL Founder: We Can Make Fights ‘People Want To See’, Like Tony Ferguson vs. Dillon Danis

    GFL Founder: We Can Make Fights ‘People Want To See’, Like Tony Ferguson vs. Dillon Danis

    The GFL is confident that they can deliver bouts that the fans are going to want to tune in for. With the promotion set to host their first event in April, the first few weeks/months for the promotion have not been plain sailing in terms of the general reception to what they’re trying to do.

    Whilst the Global Fight League is confident that their team-based format will bring a new and exciting element to MMA which will draw upon the appeal of other mainstream sports, the response from a lot of fans has been sceptical to say the least. This certainly hasn’t been helped by the names that were announced for the draft with many of the top names being fighters that are well past their peaks.

    The teams are now drawn up following the draft that took place last Friday, although there is still some concerns that have been raised as to which fighters actually agreed to fighting for the GFL before being drafted. The GFL may have a distinct format but founder Darren Owen has made it clear that this won’t stop them from putting on the fights that make the most sense.

    This is something that Owen spoke about during his recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show where he spoke about the results and reaction from the draft. Owen named several fights that we could potentially see in the promotion in the near future now that we actually know, on paper at least, who will be competing for the promotion in 2025.

    One of those fights that he mentioned was a bout between a UFC legend who holds the record for the most consecutive losses in the promotion having not won a fight in his last eight outings against another big name who also hasn’t won a fight since 2019, having previously been disqualified in a boxing match with Logan Paul.

    “We can make the fights that people want to see, and we’re listening to everybody. Tony Ferguson vs. Dillon Danis, that may be something that will come to fruition.”

    The two other matchups that Owen named were rematches between established names with Renan Barao vs. Urijah Faber 3 and Luke Rockhold vs. Chris Weidman 2 being on the table. For reference, the last encounters between these men took place 10 and 11 years ago.

  • Global Fight League Announces Signing Of Tony Ferguson After 8-Fight UFC Losing Skid

    Global Fight League Announces Signing Of Tony Ferguson After 8-Fight UFC Losing Skid

    Ahead of its inaugural draft Friday, the Global Fight League (GFL) has claimed to have signed former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson.

    In recent weeks and months, the newly created GFL — the latest attempt at making a team format successful in MMA — has announced a lengthy list of signings ahead of its launch in 2025, including multiple former champions from the UFC and other promotions.

    And while the inaugural draft takes place today, the organization is still rolling out some notable names.

    Among its latest slew of social media announcements, the GFL posted that it has signed Ferguson, whose UFC future has been uncertain after his losing skid reached a record-breaking eight straight setbacks last year.

    It’s worth noting that many names announced by the GFL have refuted their signings, insisting that they remain under contract elsewhere.

    15 GFL cards are planned up until August, after which two playoff events and one final will take place before the year’s end. The first is slated to go down in April.

    The promotion’s team format will see six city teams — Los Angeles, Miami, New York, São Paulo, London and Dubai — select 20 fighters each (two per division) from a pool of over 400 fighters at Friday’s draft.

    Each team has been assigned a prominent coach and team manager, with the likes of Ray Longo, Javier Mendez, and Conan Silveira confirmed as trainers and Cain Velasquez, Lyoto Machida, and Thiago Alves as managers.

    Among the most notable fighter signings are former UFC champions Luke Rockhold, Tyron Woodley, Fabrício Werdum, Benson Henderson, Anthony Pettis, Frank Mir, Junior dos Santos, Andrei Arlovski and Renan Barão. That’s in addition to high-profile veterans like Alexander Gustafsson, Yoel Romero, Gegard Mousasi, Aleksei Oleinik, Paige VanZant, Kevin Lee, Thiago Santos, Jeremy Stephens, Hector Lombard and Jimmie Rivera.

    The signing of 48-year-old Wanderlei Silva’s has been among the most controversial with the MMA community. “The Axe Murderer” and 47-year-old Werdum both cited irreversible brain damage in their statements for the now-settled antitrust lawsuit against the UFC last year.

    A number of other comebacks have also raised skeptical eyebrows, including the latest return from retirement for Brazil’s Marlon Moraes. The ex-WSOF champ most recently hung up the gloves after a brief stint in the PFL extended his losing skid to seven straight fights.

  • Tony Ferguson Said To Be In Talks With New Promotion Following 8-Fight UFC Losing Skid

    Tony Ferguson Said To Be In Talks With New Promotion Following 8-Fight UFC Losing Skid

    The Global Fight League, or GFL, have announced a huge amount of names who will be eligible for the promotion’s upcoming draft this month. GFL is set to host its first event around April where the team-based season format will kick off once fighters have been selected by their chosen teams.

    Many of the names on the current roster, particularly on the men’s side, are former UFC fighters who will add a certain amount of name value to the promotion from the very start. Amongst them is former UFC interim lightweight title challenger Kevin Lee who recently appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show to go into more detail about the promotion and his initial impressions of working with them.

    Lee spoke during the interview about other names that could be joining him in the promotion who could be potential opponents for him at some stage. He specifically mentioned a former opponent of his who has been on a difficult run inside the Octagon as of late.

    One of the criticisms of the GFL thus far has been the amount of fighters on the roster who are perceived to be over the hill or in some cases, already at the end of their careers. That would also be the narrative surrounding Tony Ferguson whose name still carries a degree of weight despite the fact that he has lost his last eight fights in a row which is a record for the MMA leader.

    It appeared following his last defeat against Michael Chiesa that “El Cucuy” had one foot in retirement after he took off one of his gloves inside the cage before he later confirmed that he isn’t done yet. During his losing streak, Dana White has repeatedly made it clear that he hopes Ferguson retires with his 41st birthday being just around the corner.

    However, according to what Lee has heard, it looks like Ferguson could be beginning a new chapter rather than closing the book for good.

    “I’ve heard a couple of names tossed around, the one that interests me the most is Tony Ferguson,” Lee told Helwani. “He’s had his ups and downs in his career but we’ve had a great fight for the UFC championship and I think that’s something that a lot of people can get behind and that’s a fight that I really, really want. He’s in talks with them.”

  • Tony Ferguson Teases Fight News Amid 8-Fight UFC Losing Skid: ‘I Aim To Show Something You’ve Never Seen…’

    Tony Ferguson Teases Fight News Amid 8-Fight UFC Losing Skid: ‘I Aim To Show Something You’ve Never Seen…’

    Former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson has entered the new year with his sights firmly set on a return to the cage.

    Retirement has been on the lips of many when discussing Ferguson in recent times. The 40-year-old has lost eight straight fights, leaving him with the unwanted record for the longest losing skid in UFC history.

    “El Cucuy” most recently fell to a quick submission defeat at the hands of fellow veteran Michael Chiesa in his sole outing of 2024, succumbing to a rear-naked choke in under four minutes at the UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi last August.

    While that result finally appeared to be the one that convinced Ferguson to ponder calling it quits, it didn’t take long for the Californian to backtrack and recommit to the continuation of his fighting career.

    And as 2025 gets underway, Ferguson is back to promising big things when he next enters the cage.

    “Completely Destroyed Myself,.. To Re-Invent It’ As an Artist I Aim To show Something You’ve Never Seen Before 🥋 Happy New Year Crew🍃 2025 in my sights- Champ 🦹‍♂️ -CSO- 🇺🇸🏆🇲🇽 # Stay Tuned & Watch The Magic Unfold 🪄💨🍃 New Missions Acknowledged 🔥 # MrDestiny 🚣‍♂️💨🍃 Fight News Coming Soon 📈”

    It remains to be seen what will come next in the career of Ferguson, and whether his upcoming fight news relates to the UFC.

    UFC CEO Dana White has been vocal in his desire to see the former interim champ retire, leading to speculation that “El Cucuy” could be forced to compete elsewhere this year.

  • Michael Chandler Compared With Tony Ferguson After Latest Loss: ‘Who’s He Going To Beat?’

    Michael Chandler Compared With Tony Ferguson After Latest Loss: ‘Who’s He Going To Beat?’

    Former MMA referee John McCarthy did not mince his words when analyzing UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler’s latest setback inside the Octagon.

    Chandler returned from a two-year layoff earlier this month, running it back with former champion Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of the UFC 309 pay-per-view at Madison Square Garden.

    After an unsuccessful wait to share the cage with Conor McGregor, “Iron” finally moved on and set his sights on redemption opposite “Do Bronx,” who previously knocked him out in 2021.

    But the former Bellator champion ultimately failed in that pursuit, suffering a lopsided unanimous decision defeat after five rounds of mostly dominance from Oliveira in New York City.

    With the result, Chandler has now lost two straight and four of his six UFC fights. And that’s left one prominent figure in the sport giving a grim outlook on the 38-year-old’s status on MMA’s biggest stage.

    During an episode of his Weighing In podcast alongside former UFC fighter Josh Thomson, McCarthy reflected on Chandler’s convincing defeat to Oliveira, which saw the Brazilian experience little adversity until a late surge from the American in round five.

    The former referee and Bellator commentator compared him with another veteran fighter in Tony Ferguson, who has lost eight straight since his last victory in 2019.

    “Michael Chandler has hit Tony Ferguson status. Just being honest,” McCarthy said. “Who’s he going to beat? He looked slow at times. You want to talk about looking slow, you cannot look slow in the lightweight division. You’re gonna die. And he got outwrestled by a jiu-jitsu guy.

    “Michael Chandler got crushed. I mean, just crushed,” McCarthy continued. “The two years (away) showed that not only did Michael Chandler not improve as a fighter, but he declined, and he watched his career start to expire. … I like Michael Chandler as a person, and I think he’s great for the sport…(but) he’s calling out Conor McGregor after losing again — what the hell?! You can’t do that!”

    Should Chandler get his wish in 2025, he may be departing the 155-pound division next time out.

    During his post-fight Octagon interview, “Iron” once again called out McGregor despite his past failure to secure the lucrative fight. Should that finally come to fruition in the new year, it stands to reason that it would take place at welterweight.

    Oliveira, meanwhile, has his eyes on regaining the ultimate prize. He’s widely expected to challenge the winner of Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan’s championship rematch, which is reportedly in the works for UFC 311 in Los Angeles early next year.

  • ‘Going To End Up Like Bigfoot Silva’ – Fans React After Tony Ferguson Teases ‘Big Changes’ Amid Career Uncertainty

    ‘Going To End Up Like Bigfoot Silva’ – Fans React After Tony Ferguson Teases ‘Big Changes’ Amid Career Uncertainty

    Former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson’s latest comments on social media have plenty of fans concerned.

    While once riding a record winning streak on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage and pointed to by some as the biggest threat to the great Khabib Nurmagomedov, Ferguson has experienced quite the fall from grace.

    “El Cucuy” now sits on the longest losing skid in UFC history, having lost eight straight fights since the start of 2020. The most recent addition to that torrid run came at the Abu Dhabi-held UFC Fight Night last month, where he was submitted in one round by Michael Chiesa.

    In the initial aftermath, it appeared that a retirement branded long overdue by many was on its way. But Ferguson’s Octagon interview was a half-retirement at best, and his subsequent press conference suggested a return to the cage was likely.

    Ferguson’s recent video on social media has only increased that conclusion among fans…

    “Check this out, crew,” Ferguson began. “I have some very exciting news for you coming at you. I can’t really say too much right now, but there’s going to be some big changes going on. So make sure you guys stay tuned. Catch you later.”

    While Ferguson didn’t directly mention the UFC or a fight, many connected the dots between his half-retirement in Abu Dhabi that appeared to be quickly backtracked and his promise of changes to suggest “El Cucuy” is likely referring to another outing in the cage.

    UFC Fans React To Ferguson’s Incoming News: ‘Praying That CM Punk Is The Opponent…’

    Members of the MMA community were quick to react to Ferguson’s teaser.

    Suffice to say, the reactions were as expected, with many expressing worries should the “news” and “changes” the 40-year-old mentioned be an indication of his plan to continue his career as an active fighter.

    As expected, the most prominent word throughout the comment section was ‘retire’.

    https://twitter.com/ZenArkana/status/1831614676691480581
  • Classy Khabib Nurmagomedov Sets Record Straight After Tony Ferguson Aims Vulgar Taunts At Him: ‘Enjoy Your Life & Your Family’

    Classy Khabib Nurmagomedov Sets Record Straight After Tony Ferguson Aims Vulgar Taunts At Him: ‘Enjoy Your Life & Your Family’

    Khabib Nurmagomedov facing Tony Ferguson inside the Octagon will always be one of the biggest fights that fans never got to watch happen.

    The two men were at the top of the lightweight division at the same time and whilst their paths never crossed, they beat nearly every other top contender between them.

    Ferguson and Khabib both had incredible winning streaks but the fight simply wouldn’t happen, despite getting close on multiple occasions.

    Though “The Eagle” appeared to move on from this, especially after he announced his retirement, “El Cucuy” doesn’t seem to have ever let this one go even after their careers have gone in completely different directions.

    A recent post from the former interim lightweight champion appeared to hit back at comments that he had seen which were allegedly made by his former rival, claiming that Ferguson’s only chance of beating him was to land a lucky shot.

    Ferguson responded via his usual style of cryptic posting on social media.

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Clears The Air With Tony Ferguson, Tells Him To Enjoy Life

    Rather than just ignoring these kinds of posts from Ferguson, which were once a common occurrence, Nurmagomedov responded to this one via his X profile.

    The undefeated former lightweight king replied underneath Ferguson’s pinned post on his account and offered a classy response.

    Rather than biting back and saying how he would have beaten “El Cucuy” if they did ever face off with one another, Nurmagomedov clarified that these comments weren’t made by him.

    He ended his statement by telling Ferguson to go and appreciate his loved ones, insinuating that he should walk away from the sport for good after he appeared to half-retire following his eighth consecutive UFC loss earlier this month.

    “You know what’s interesting, i didn’t say anything about you, people just post whatever they want on the internet and write that it’s Khabib. Enjoy your life and your family, leave this sport for the young fighters.”

    Read also: Dan Hooker On Learning His Lessons From Initial Top Five Stint, Vows Not To ‘Sell His Title Shot Again’

  • Michael Chiesa Recalls ‘That Version’ Of Tony Ferguson: ‘I Will Go Out On A Limb & Say I Think He Could Have Beat Khabib Nurmagomedov ‘

    Michael Chiesa Recalls ‘That Version’ Of Tony Ferguson: ‘I Will Go Out On A Limb & Say I Think He Could Have Beat Khabib Nurmagomedov ‘

    At one point in time, Khabib Nurmagomedov versus Tony Ferguson was right at the top of every MMA fan’s bucket list for fights they wanted to see.

    Despite the two men undergoing multiple training camps and fights weeks in preparation for one another, it never did materialize during their careers.

    With Nurmagomedov retiring in 2020, history has been much kinder to him as he walked away from the sport with his undefeated record intact.

    Ferguson at his peak was able to match the lightweight winning streak of “The Eagle” but he now finds himself holding the UFC record for the most consecutive losses.

    That being said, it can’t be forgotten just how desirable this fight was when both men were beating everyone else at 155 pounds.

    Michael Chiesa Says 2016 Tony Ferguson Could Have Beaten Khabib Nurmagomedov

    In a recent interview with BJPenn.com, Michael Chiesa spoke about how he prepared to face Ferguson at the recent UFC Fight Night event in Abu Dhabi.

    He revealed how rather than watching his opponent’s latest outings, he went back to watching the very best of the former interim lightweight champion in order to make sure that he was training to fight Ferguson at full force.

    Chiesa would go on to win the fight via a submission but watching footage on his opponent only made him appreciate the winning run that he went on between 2013-2019, even more.

    He said that in one of the biggest “what ifs” in MMA history, he believes that the 2016 version of “El Cucuy” in particular had a strong chance of handing Nurmagomedov his first and only loss if they had met inside the Octagon 8 years ago.

    “I will admit like going back and watching some of his recent fights, I wouldn’t say gave me a false sense of security but I was definitely like this isn’t the film to watch, I’m going to go back and watch the film that I was watching to prepare for him in 2016. I watched that Rafael Dos Anjos fight a lot because I feel like that version of Tony Ferguson that we saw in the Octagon against Rafael Dos Anjos, I feel like he could have beat anybody in the world. I mean, I will go out on a limb and say I think that he could have beaten Khabib Nurmagomedov if that was the version of him. I think that was his peak. The peak was RDA and even though he still won fights from there, I still think it started to go down a little bit.”

    Read also: Belal Muhammad On Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Ability 4 Years On From Retirement: ‘Could Come Back & Be A Champion In Any Division’

  • Recently Retired UFC Fighter Sympathizes With Tony Ferguson’s Struggles: ‘He’s Like A Cocaine Addict Trying To Reach That High Again’

    One man with experience committing to an exit from active competition knows full well the difficulty that former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson is having amid an eight-fight skid.

    Ferguson fell to an unwanted record at this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, with fellow veteran Michael Chiesa sending him to the longest run of defeats in the promotion’s history.

    “El Cucuy” was finished inside the first round at the Etihad Arena, tapping out to a rear-naked choke after being comfortably taken down and offering little defense to the submission move.

    In the aftermath, the 40-year-old initially appeared set to announce his retirement. But while the majority seemingly would have supported that move, the best they got was a half-retirement, and event that appeared to be quickly walked back in the aftermath.

    Brown: Ferguson ‘Has To Accept’ His Time Has Gone

    During the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Writer vs. The Fighter, recently retired welterweight Matt Brown gave his assessment of Ferguson’s current situation.

    “The Immortal” brought his career to an end this year, having amassed the second most fights in the 170-pound division’s history and falling below only heavyweight powerhouse Derrick Lewis for knockouts.

    Brown retired a year on from his previous appearance, a brutal KO victory over Court McGee. The result ensured he hung up the gloves off the back of a 2-1 record across his final three fights, all of which netted him performance bonuses.

    The ship appears to have sailed when it comes to Ferguson retiring on a similarly strong run of form, and Brown thinks “El Cucuy” is simply chasing a “high” that will never come again.

    “Look, when you lose eight in a row, it doesn’t matter where you’re at in your career…you should probably call it quits,” Brown said. “Something isn’t right. Whatever it is. If you lost your first eight or you lost your last eight. The problem is he had so many wins, he was interim champion, on like a 12-fight winning streak back in the day. So he’s like a cocaine addict trying to reach that high again. When you get eight (losses), it doesn’t matter. If he had lost eight fights in a row at the beginning of his career…he would have quit most likely. He would have been like, ‘Well, this definitely isn’t the sport for me, I lost eight fights in a row.’ But because he’s already had that high, he’s thinking I can get back to that.

    “It’s like cocaine. It really is. That’s what walking into an Octagon and beating another man’s ass (feels like), especially the way Tony did where he just f*cking ripped people’s souls out of their bodies. That is a high you cannot get anywhere else, in any other way,” Brown continued. “But you can’t chase that. You’ve got to accept that was the season of your life, and it’s time to move onto a new season.”

    Ferguson is yet to discuss his future since his comments inside the cage and at the post-fight press conference this past weekend. It remains to be seen whether he’ll attempt another outing inside the Octagon, and whether the UFC will even let him.

  • Chael Sonnen Doesn’t Hold Back With ‘Tough Love’ For Tony Ferguson: ‘This Needs To Stop!’

    Chael Sonnen Doesn’t Hold Back With ‘Tough Love’ For Tony Ferguson: ‘This Needs To Stop!’

    Chael Sonnen is evidently among those who think the decision surrounding Tony Ferguson’s UFC career should be taken out of his hands.

    Ferguson’s woes inside the Octagon continued at this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, where he fell to a record eight-fight losing skid at the hands of fellow veteran Michael Chiesa.

    While he made it to the scorecards against Paddy Pimblett last December, “El Cucuy’s” latest outing saw him finished before the first horn. Following a takedown, the ex-interim lightweight champion was submitted by way of a rear-naked choke.

    After Chiesa surrendered his microphone time in the aftermath, it appeared a retirement announcement long branded overdue by many would finally arrive. But the best that those hopeful of the end got was a half-retirement, and even that appeared to be walked back moments later.

    The continued rejection of clear retirement talk has left plenty of fans, fighters, and analysts concerned, and Sonnen had a problem with more than one aspect of Ferguson’s display in the Middle East…

    Sonnen Critical Of Ferguson”s Performance, ‘Double Cross’ On The Mic

    During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Sonnen gave his assessment of Ferguson’s latest setback inside the Octagon and refusal to confirm his retirement inside the cage.

    “The American Gangster” expressed surprise at the 40-year-old’s inability to carry out basic grappling defense on the ground. And beyond just the fight, Sonnen accused Ferguson of double-crossing Chiesa by removing his gloves as if he was set to retire and not giving a “shine” to his opponent.

    “At some point,. we’re gonna have to have some real tough love for Tony here. He just set a record, a record for the most (straight) losses in UFC history,” Sonnen said. “I don’t have a problem with a guy slowing down…I got a big problem with him getting taken down, getting his back taken — which is what you learn the very first day of jiu-jitsu — and not hand-fighting. … The fact that Tony’s in there almost like he’s working with him, like he’s making a technique video or something for the rear-naked choke, that’s a problem for me.

    “Taking one glove of was kind of cool, until I heard why he’s doing it; because he wants another fight and isn’t sure the UFC’s gonna give it to him. Well, let me help you out there, I’m real sure the UFC’s not gonna give it to you,” Sonnen continued. “I’m a little bit surprised with the disconnect of mental awareness for what was going on, or even being handed a microphone that you don’t deserve and only got because you’re gonna retire, then you pull the retirement back and don’t shine up Chiesa, who gave you the microphone in the first place. It was a real bit of a double cross, frankly.”

    Sonnen continued, insisting that witnessing Ferguson’s career continue is “not fun anymore” and “needs to stop.”

    “I am completely confident in telling you there’s not going to be a return,” Sonnen stated. “Grappling is what Tony does so well…he’s just a fantastic guy on the ground. … I have a problem with the fact he didn’t hand-fight. … It seemed like there was some very basic awareness of very basic steps that weren’t being done, in conjunction with an interview that I could give a pass to had a guy just got knocked out. It wasn’t like that. This needs to stop! It’s not fun anymore.”

    Since once again vowing to improve and insisting that he remains a threat during a post-fight press conference that gave little indication that a retirement could be on the way, Ferguson is yet to further address his future.

  • Jon Anik Names Perfect Final Opponent For Tony Ferguson After He Half-Retires At UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi: ‘That Fight Makes Some Sense’

    Jon Anik Names Perfect Final Opponent For Tony Ferguson After He Half-Retires At UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi: ‘That Fight Makes Some Sense’

    It’s a hard pill to swallow, but Tony Ferguson has now lost eight fights in a row. Justin Gaethje broke his iconic 12-fight win streak in the UFC lightweight division and most recently, he lost to Michael Chiesa via submission at UFC Abu Dhabi.

    Ferguson was naturally overwhelmed by the loss but he didn’t lay down both his gloves in the Octagon. He was unsure about retirement and kept a glove just in case an exciting fight opportunity emerges.

    If he returns to the Octagon for one last ride, Jon Anik has the perfect opponent for Ferguson…

    Jon Anik Expects Tony Ferguson To Find Success Against Fellow UFC Lightweight Veteran Joe Lauzon

    Anik recently appeared on Submission Radio on YouTube and talked about Ferguson’s career as of late. He credited “El Cucuy” for making a double-digit win streak in a competitive division like lightweight, and admitted how the eight losses on this record baffle him.

    “The rainbow-colored nature of Tony Ferguson’s Wikipedia page, bro. I mean, it is indeed crazy to see 12 green stripes followed by eight red stripes.”

    Anik wants to see Ferguson in the UFC Hall of Fame as soon as possible. He isn’t keen on seeing the veteran fight again but suggested that Joe Lauzon could be a viable option for his upcoming and most likely, final, bout.

    “I was googling Joe Lauzon to make sure that he never fought Tony Ferguson because as I sit here and think about opponents that might make sense for Tony to try to realize some sort of success. Joe Lauzon still has fights left on his contract and for whatever reason, hasn’t competed, but I think that fight makes some sense”

    Lauzon made his debut in the UFC in 2006 and is a veteran with over 25 fights under his belt. He holds wins over Jens Pulver, Jeremy Stephens, Chiesa, and Diego Sanchez, among other notable lightweight fighters.

    The UFC commentator highlighted that Lauzon still has fights on his UFC contract. However, he hasn’t fought for the promotion since October 2019 so it’s hard to anticipate whether he would return for a bout with Ferguson.

    READ MORE: Tom Aspinall Questions UFC’s ‘Unfair’ Decision Not To Renew Muhammad Mokaev’s Contract