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Tag: Tony Ferguson

  • Archives: Tony Ferguson: “I’ve Outperformed My UFC Contract” (2017)

    On this day five years ago, the MMA world was eager to see a fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson. In this article, Ferguson discussed where things stood on his end before the fight was ultimately booked as an interim lightweight title bout at UFC 209, which Nurmagomedov had to pull out from due to weight-cutting complications.

    The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Five Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 2, 2017, 6:13 PM]

    Headline: Tony Ferguson: ‘I’ve Outperformed my UFC Contract’

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    Mixed martial arts (MMA) fans have been clamoring for a lightweight clash between no. 1 ranked Khabib Nurmagomedov and no. 2 ranked Tony Ferguson. The negotiations hit a snag and both men played the blame game. “The Eagle” claimed Ferguson wouldn’t sign on for a March bout, while “El Cucuy” said Nurmagomedov turned down a fight for January.

    Ferguson appeared on The MMA Hour and made it clear he has no love for Nurmagomedov:

    “I think everybody needs to realize that the gloves are still off. I don’t like this guy [Nurmagomedov]. I think my style of fighting is so much better than his. I’m not even gonna get into numbers, but my numbers speak for themselves as far as finishing people and I’ve got nine consecutive victories. I’m just a much better fighter than this dude.”

    Both men are vying for a shot at Conor McGregor’s title and feel these deserve a shot. While they both agree on wanting better contracts with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), “El Cucuy” wants it to be known that they aren’t buddies.

    “I don’t talk to the guy. I’m not his best friend. We took a picture just so I could size the guy up. We’re gonna fight, that’s what it is. The things have to be right, they have to be on good terms.”

    Ferguson said he was ready to compete against Nurmagomedov in January, that obviously isn’t going to happen. “El Cucuy” explained what went down.

    “When he didn’t want to sign on the dotted line because he had too many boo-boos or he didn’t want to do it in my hometown, I was like whatever I’m gonna take a little break and see what’s up.”

    There’s been lot of talk about Ferguson’s contract with the UFC. “El Cucuy” wants more money but UFC President Dana White wants him to honor the contract he signed “not too long ago.” Ferguson believes his work has exceeded the current terms.

    “I have a contract, but I’ve outperformed that contract. I want equal terms, I want to be compensated for this particular bout. The UFC has a long history of changing a fighter’s compensation for a particular bout. We’ve just seen this for UFC 207 with Ronda. I got a phone call saying, ‘hey you made weight with jeans on’ and it wasn’t even a ceremonial weigh-in. I got an earful on it.”

  • Kevin Lee: I Knew I Wasn’t Ready For Tony Ferguson

    Former UFC interim lightweight title challenger Kevin Lee wasn’t ready for the spotlight that came with his fight against Tony Ferguson.

    Lee was recently released by the UFC in a stunning move by the promotion. Despite losses in four of his last five fights, he had faced stiff competition, including Charles Oliveira and Rafael dos Anjos.

    Lee’s first true taste of free agency didn’t last long, as he opted to sign with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC promotion. It was arguably the biggest signing by a mid-tier promotion in 2021.

    Lee was once thought of as one of the top lightweight prospects in the world, leading up to his loss to Ferguson at UFC 216. He had risen to the top of the lightweight division with wins in nine of his previous ten bouts.

    During a recent interview with The Schmo, Lee was blatantly honest when discussing if he would’ve done anything different during his UFC tenure.

    “I’m not gonna say I would do it differently because I don’t regret anything. I might have done some stuff better though,” Lee said. “When I first made like, the big push, when you see me do the Michael Chiesa thing. I didn’t know that that was gonna happen, no regrets, no regrets. But even afterwards, the calling out Tony Ferguson, and getting that fight way too soon, way before I was supposed to get that fight.

    UFC 216 Results: The Real Winners and Losers from Ferguson vs Lee Fight Card | Bleacher Report | Latest News, Videos and Highlights
    Tony Ferguson (left) and Kevin Lee (right)Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

    “Sometimes I regret it, I’m not gonna lie to you. Sometimes I regret having that overriding confidence to do something you know you shouldn’t do. I knew I wasn’t ready for Tony, at the time I took that fight. I just was like, ‘Alright, we gonna do it. Gonna put my balls out there and we’re gonna see what it is.’ My balls was bigger than my brain.”

    Lee has previously discussed just how brutal the buildup was to his fight with Ferguson. He’s mentioned that the weight-cutting process for the interim title bout made him delirious and physically depleted as he cut down to the 155-pound limit.

    Lee is slated to make his Eagle FC debut against Diego Sanchez in March in a 165-pound matchup. It’ll be his prime opportunity to get back on track after recent struggles in the UFC.

    Do you think Kevin Lee will ever eventually return to the UFC?

  • Ferguson Claims Chandler Is Delaying Agreed Fight, Chandler Responds

    According to Tony Ferguson, he and Michael Chandler have agreed to fight, but “Iron” Mike is already using stalling tactics.

    Michael Chandler has made it clear who he would like to be standing across the Octagon from in his next fight, that being “The Notorious” Conor McGregor.

    McGregor is currently expected to return this year following leg surgery, but that may not be until sometime in the summer. That leaves Chandler with a wide potential gap between opponents, with his most recent fight being the November classic against Justin Gaethje at UFC 268.

    However, according to Tony Ferguson, Chandler has already agreed to fight against him. So when Chandler once again began lobbying on social media for a fight against McGregor in McGregor’s return, Ferguson decided to interject.

    “There’s My Bitch!!! @MikeChandlerMMA The Brass @danawhite@ufc Relayed Your Message Saying You Would Be Ready For Me April/June. Looks Like Your Trying To Delay That Ass-Whoopin’ I Owe Ya For Cutting In Line Kid- It’s Wrestling Season MF, Man Up- Champ,” Ferguson wrote.

    Chandler would then issue the following response soon after.

    “Oh Tony. There’s only a handful of guys in this game I truly respect…you’re one of them. Only because of your tenure, not your stature or your current presence in the division. I’ll beat you from bell to bell. Pray for a merciful ref. We shall see if this fight happens.”

    Why Ferguson vs. Chandler Next Makes Sense

    Tony Ferguson vs Michael Chandler
    Tony Ferguson, Michael Chandler

    Last month, Ferguson claimed that he had received the El Cucuy signal, thus hinting that his next opponent had been determined. Now, it looks as though Ferguson may have been referring to Michael Chandler.

    This bout would come with a backstory, as it was Ferguson who famously coined the phrase “Dana White Privilege” in reference to Chandler “skipping the line” to a title shot due to being in White’s good graces. Chandler would go on to lose that title fight against Charles Oliveira at UFC 262.

    Both fighters are currently on skids, with Chandler dropping two straight and Ferguson losing three in a row. Between that fact and their placement in the lightweight rankings being only two spots apart, there is certainly some logic behind the potential fight.

    MMA News will keep you updated on if there is any legitimacy to this fight pairing and, if so, when and where it will take place.

    Would you be interested in seeing Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson in 2022?

  • Tony Ferguson Mocks Charles Oliveira For Not Being Able To Finish Him

    Tony Ferguson is looking to run things back with champion Charles Oliveira.

    Fresh off his UFC 269 win over Dustin Poirier, Oliveira was bound to get some call-outs from the rest of the lightweight division. With a successful title defense under his belt, Oliveira’s status as the champ is more solid than ever.

    Oliveira has been called out by the likes of Justin Gaethje and Conor McGregor, but one callout that may be surprising is that from Tony Ferguson. Ferguson had a reminder for the new champion after his UFC 269 submission victory.

    Ferguson isn’t exactly the most logical next choice for Oliveira. Ferguson is currently on a three-fight losing streak. He has dropped down to number seven in the official UFC lightweight rankings. His last win was against Donald Cerrone back in June of 2019.

    Oliveira defeated Ferguson at UFC 256 right before he went on to win the lightweight title. If Ferguson had won that bout, he could be the one holding the belt right now. Oliveira won by unanimous decision and that is the basis that Ferguson is running on when he claims Oliveira was unable to finish him.

    Tony Ferguson Hints At Looming Return

    Even though Ferguson probably won’t see Oliveira again anytime soon, it is a bit of a relief for Ferguson fans to see that he wants back in the Octagon. His last fight was in May, and he has been unclear of what his future plans were. He later sent out a tweet that could be an indicator of an incoming fight announcement.

    This message from Ferguson is a bit cryptic like most of his tweets, but he does have a trophy and number one medal in there, maybe insinuating a title shot. If he can string together a couple of wins over top-ranked opponents, then perhaps he will find his way to the lightweight title and a fight with Oliveira.

    Do you want to see Charles Oliveira and Tony Ferguson run it back?

  • Gregor Gillespie Calls Out Tony Ferguson: ‘It’s Time For Me To Ankle Pick You’

    Gregor Gillespie wants former UFC interim title champion Tony Ferguson as his next opponent.

    Hot off a successful performance in his return, Gillespie wants to continue his climb up the lightweight ranks. In an attempt to do so, he has targeted the division’s seventh-ranked fighter in Ferguson.

    Gillespie took to social media earlier this week to call for the matchup. He noted the importance of his message, stating that it is rare for him to ever call for a specific fight.

    “For the last 15 fights, people have been pressuring me and annoying me to call someone out. I never wanted to, but I think it’s time to play the game,” said Gillespie in a Twitter clip. “I want my second callout to count, so Tony Ferguson, I think it’s time for me to ankle pick you in that Octagon. What do you say?” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    What Gillespie vs. Ferguson Would Mean To Both Fighters

    Tony Ferguson
    Image Credit: John Locher/AP

    The theoretical fight offers Ferguson a chance to break a losing streak, putting him in the win column for the first time since his campaign towards a title shot in 2020. On the other hand, it gives Gillespie the opportunity to potentially climb numerous spots in the rankings, pushing him one step closer to the ultimate goal of becoming a champion.

    Gillespie bounced back from his sole pro loss in May, scoring a second-round stoppage victory over Diego Ferreira. The victory was later given a “Fight of the Night” award.

    The recent win for Gillespie was his first appearance in over a year. His prior fight was a loss against Kevin Lee in November 2019.

    Ferguson is currently on a three-fight skid, although the losses have come against some of the best at lightweight. In 2020, Ferguson lost to Justin Gaethje and now-UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira. His last appearance saw him unfavored on the scorecards against Beneil Dariush.

    Do you want to see Gregor Gillespie against Tony Ferguson? Who do you think would win?

  • Manager Offers Ferguson Grappling Match Against Khabib

    Dominance MMA CEO Ali Abdelaziz has offered UFC lightweight Tony Ferguson a grappling match against long-term rival Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    A clash between the former interim champ and the longest 155-pound titleholder in UFC history is regarded as one of the most desired fights that got away. The pair were booked against each other on five separate occasions.

    After injuries and health issues on both sides saw meetings at The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale, UFC on FOX 19, UFC 209, and UFC 223 collapse, the promotion made one last attempt to put on the blockbuster matchup at UFC 249 last year. After COVID-19 restrictions forced “The Eagle” out, the fight appeared forever doomed.

    That seemed confirmed when Justin Gaethje ended Ferguson’s unbeaten run and went on to challenge Khabib at UFC 254. After the Dagestani defended the title for the third time against “The Highlight,” he announced his retirement from active competition.

    Has Abdelaziz Breathed Life Into The Doomed Ferguson/Khabib Matchup?

    While the feud between Ferguson and Khabib has continued over social media since the Russian officially hung up his gloves and vacated the belt earlier this year, fans have watched their exchanges with the acceptance that they’ll never see the pair share the Octagon together.

    However, renowned MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz seems to believe there’s another route that could lead to “El Cucuy” and “The Eagle” competing against each other. Taking to Twitter, the Egyptian-American sent a message to Ferguson, asking him if he’d face Khabib in a grappling match.

    “@TonyFergusonXT what do you think about doing a grappling match with the Eagle in the future? I’m not picking on you, I’m serious. @TeamKhabib”

    Despite having impressive grappling credentials, Ferguson has been dominated on the ground in his last two fights, both of which featured gruesome submission locks.

    In his loss to Charles Oliveira last year, the 37-year-old was stuck in an incredibly sunk-in armbar towards the end of the opening round. Earlier this year at UFC 262, Dariush appeared in to manufacture a similar fight-ending opportunity, this time in a kneebar. Despite surviving both, Ferguson fell on the wrong side of decisions in both outings.

    Khabib, meanwhile, is regarded as one of the best grapplers in UFC history. As well as barely losing a round during his career, “The Eagle” submitted Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, Conor McGregor, and Michael Johnson in the UFC.

    How do you think Tony Ferguson would fare in a grappling match against Khabib Nurmagomedov?

  • [ARCHIVES] Ferguson Says ‘F**k No’ To Idea That Khabib Fight Is Cursed

    [MMA NEWS ARCHIVES]

    On this day two years ago, there was still hope that we’d see Khabib vs. Ferguson, and Ferguson refused to accept that the fight was cursed. The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Two Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED DECEMBER 4, 2019, 11:24 AM]

    One would be wise not to tell Tony Ferguson that a bout with Khabib Nurmagomedov is cursed.

    Ferguson is set to challenge Nurmagomedov for the UFC lightweight title on April 18 in Brooklyn, NY. While fight fans are excited, some feel this bout is cursed. It has been booked several times in the past but never came to fruition due to injuries and illnesses on both sides.

    Tony Ferguson Blasts Those Who Say Khabib Fight Is Cursed

    Ferguson was a guest on ESPN’s Ariel Helwani MMA Show. During his appearance, “El Cucuy” had some choice words for those who think a bout with “The Eagle” is cursed (via MMAMania.com).

    “F*ck no, you can stop right there. Don’t even get the fans going on that sh*t. We’re going to set the pace right now – I want the encouragement,” Ferguson told Ariel Helwani. “F*ck you, don’t watch this sh*t, don’t buy our stuff. Go watch Bellator or some other bullsh*t. Go find some knock-off copy of what he got going on here … this is the OGs, I’m the original genius right here.”

    Ferguson was last seen in action back in June at UFC 238. He earned a second-round TKO victory over Donald Cerrone. The victory extended Ferguson’s winning streak to 12. He is scheduled to be Nurmagomedov’s third UFC lightweight title challenger. Nurmagomedov is a perfect 28-0 in his pro MMA career.

    Stick with MMANews.com for the latest updates on the UFC 249 card. We’ll keep you up to speed as the card shapes up.

  • Chimaev: MMA May Put Me In ‘A Mental Hospital’ Like Ferguson Or Tyson

    There are plenty of cautionary tales in combat sports, but Khamzat Chimaev is being careful not to be one of them.

    Chimaev has set the MMA world on fire with the utter dominance shown in his UFC career thus far. The undefeated Chechen prospect has burnt through his first four opponents in the promotion, only absorbing a combined total of two strikes across the bouts.

    However, Chimaev knows that this might not last forever and that combat sports is a fickle mistress that may deliver fame and fortune but can take your soul in the process.

    When asked in a recent interview with Hustle MMA about former boxing champion Mike Tyson, who has had notorious blotches on his life story, Chimaev said that he was a fan of Tyson, even through the different phases that “Iron” Mike went through in his life. He also knows that this situation could just as easily happen to him or anyone else.

    “As a fighter, an athlete, I really like him. But I don’t like what all happened with him: the violence, the pills, the marijuana, then muslims, it’s strange. But I still respect him, both as a fighter and as a person. He went through a lot of things and because of this, he broke down, did a lot of bad things,” Chimaev said.

    7 Times Mike Tyson's Physique was Absolutely Ferocious | Muscle & Fitness
    “Iron” Mike Tyson

    “No one knows what will happen to me, it can happen to anyone. A good, normal person, but something happens and you end up in a mental hospital. Like (Tony) Ferguson, right? Something like that happened to him.”

    It is good to see a fighter so early in his career, be so wary of the cautionary tales that combat sports so often provide. In addition to Mike Tyson, Khamzat Chimaev also referenced former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson, who notably went through something of a mental health crisis in 2019.

    While this could be written off as a diss, it instead seems as if he is just conscious of the possible risks that happen as one rises in status and popularity.

    Check out the full interview in the video below:

  • Tony Ferguson Threatens To Make Khamzat Chimaev His “B*tch”

    Tony Ferguson has blasted Khamzat Chimaev seemingly out of the blue, even going so far as threatening to make the surging UFC star his “bitch.”

    Khamzat Chimaev is swiftly becoming one of the most active social media users on the UFC roster. Just yesterday alone, Borz called out not one, not two, but three retired former UFC champions: Georges St-Pierre, Brock Lesnar, and Daniel Cormier. He also laid into Colby Covington for the second time in recent weeks.

    After one of Chimaev’s tweets directed at Covington, there was one unexpected retweet from none other than former UFC interim lightweight champion, “El Cucuy” Tony Ferguson. Ferguson joined the list of those who have drawn comparisons to Chimaev and Khabib Nurmagomedov and then made an explicit threat to the undefeated phenom.

    “you do not represent USA i represent USA you represent cowardice,” Chimaev posted in a tweet directed at Covington.

    “The Fuck You Do. Ya Can’t Even Make Weight Like Fathead @TeamKhabib Sit Down Shut Up Before I Make You My Bitch Where Were You During The Start Of The Pandemic? # Merica’MF” Ferguson said in his re-tweet.

    Tony Ferguson is currently on a three-fight losing streak and has not competed at welterweight since winning The Ultimate Fighter in 2011. Therefore, the chances of him being paired with undefeated welterweight Khamzat Chimaev in the near future are likely slim to none.

    Chimaev is reportedly in talks to fight Gilbert Burns next, yet there has not been any movement or further reports on those negotiations since the initial report two weeks ago.

    Do you have any interest in seeing a bout between Khamzat Chimaev and Tony Ferguson?