Tag: Tony Ferguson

Tony Ferguson targets early 2025 UFC return: ‘I’m too old to retire’

Tony Ferguson reiterates that he’s not going anywhere and plans on returning to the UFC next year.

UFC veteran [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] has reiterated that he’s not going anywhere.

Ferguson (25-11 MMA, 15-9 UFC) pondered retirement when he suffered his eighth consecutive loss at UFC on ABC 7 this past August. He laid down one glove in the octagon after losing to Michael Chiesa but walked back his thoughts immediately.

Although UFC CEO Dana White said he would like to see the former interim lightweight champion call it a career, Ferguson insists he still feels good. He plans on reaching out to the UFC himself when he’s ready to fight.

“I left half a f*cking glove in there, and I got it back, so that just tells me I got both pairs of gloves,” Ferguson told Demetrious Johnson on his YouTube Channel. “We’re going to probably take the rest of this season, figure some things out, and we’re coming back hard either January or February, so stay tuned. F*ck no, I’m not retiring. I’m too old to retire.

“I’m 40 years old. I’m halfway to 80. I’ve been competing since I was 5 years old in multiple sports. I’ve wrestled in college. I’ve done all the other stuff, and it’s not like I don’t know anything else. I do. I’m still able to compete. When somebody can run a sprint faster than me, then maybe I’ll start to consider it.”

Ferguson, who recently sought help from former Navy SEAL David Goggins, plans on reaching out to other coaches to help him rebound. One coach he has in mind is Firas Zahabi, head coach of former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre.

“What I really need is to find that coaching and that discipline around other people,” Ferguson said. “Being uncomfortable in practice so that way you’re not miserable in the fight. I approached a couple different coaches. Firas Zahabi is one of the coaches I’ve always admired, because he was GSP’s coach, and GSP was always my target.”

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Khabib Nurmagomedov: Only chance Tony Ferguson had to stop me was ‘a lucky punch’

Had they fought, Khabib Nurmagomedov says Tony Ferguson never stood a chance of beating him.

UFC Hall of Famer [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] says [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] never stood a chance of beating him.

Ferguson, who was once owner of a 12-fight winning streak, was long considered Nurmagomedov’s biggest threat. They were booked against each other five times, but each one was canceled, leaving their rivalry unsettled.

Ferguson was adamant that he would be the one to hand former UFC lightweight champion Nurmagomedov his first loss, but “The Eagle” said his style was a nightmare matchup.

“I feel a little bit sad, but at the same time, I always understood that my game is worse for him,” Nurmagomedov said on the “Inspire Me Podcast.” “He doesn’t have wrestling. He doesn’t have grappling. What was he going to do with me? How was he going to stop me? The only chance he had to stop me was with a lucky punch, like with everybody. Like with Conor (McGregor), with (Dustin) Poirier, with Justin Gaethje.

“Everybody talks about like, ‘They can stop him if Khabib is going to get (hit with) lucky punch,’ but other stuff, how are they going to stop me? When he fought with Danny Castillo, (Beneil) Dariush, Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, all these guys mauled him. He didn’t have wrestling defense. He didn’t have good grappling. My fighting game was worse for him. I’m a little bit sad, but what we can do?”

After their fifth and final fight cancellation at UFC 249 due to COVID-19 related travel bans, Nurmagomedov and Ferguson’s careers took off in vastly different directions. Ferguson’s winning streak was ended by Justin Gaethje, which kickstarted a UFC-record skid that reached eight fights after his loss to Michael Chiesa earlier this month at UFC on ABC 7.

Nurmagomedov fought only one more time, submitting Gaethje to retain his lightweight title at UFC 254 and retiring immediately afterward.

“I feel a little bit sad, but then time showed who has what level,” Nurmagomedov said.

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UFC’s Michael Chiesa explains why he doesn’t want Tony Ferguson to fight anymore

“I just don’t think he should be taking shots anymore,” Michael Chiesa said of Tony Ferguson after beating him at UFC on ABC 7.

[autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] can satisfy his competitive drive in ways other than MMA.

Ferguson (25-11 MMA, 15-9 UFC) suffered a UFC record eighth consecitve loss when he was submitted in the first round by Chiesa at UFC on ABC 7. Ferguson laid down one glove after the loss but appeared to walk back any retirement talk.

Ferguson hopes the UFC remains his home, even though Dana White has urged him to retire on numerous occasions. Like White, Chiesa (17-7 MMA, 12-7 UFC) thinks “El Cucuy” should no longer be fighting.

“I hope he just stops competing,” Chiesa told BJPenn.com. “Maybe if he wants to scratch that itch and compete in jiu-jitsu, I’m sure there are a lot of jiu-jitsu promotions that would pay Tony a lot of money to grapple. I just don’t want to see him take any headshots anymore. That is speaking to a brother that I’m in the same fraternity with.

“Him and I both won ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’ I say that with compassion. You can still make money and compete in jiu-jitsu, but I don’t think it’s a financial thing for Tony. I think he’s just a fierce competitor. The guy likes to compete. He’s very athletic. I just don’t think he should be taking shots anymore.”

Chiesa opted to hand Ferguson the microphone after his win, considering that it may have likely been his final moment in the octagon.

“It’s one of those things. I don’t have anything, so let him have his moment. It’s on ABC,” Chiesa said. “While some people might have thought I should have taken my time and been a bit more selfish, I disagree. I consider myself to be in the same fraternity as Tony Ferguson.

“We both have that common ground that not many other fighters have, so I just felt like it was time to let him have his moment. I’m pretty sure that’s the last time we’ll see him in the UFC. The only way you want to keep him in the UFC is to protect him from the people outside the UFC that are going to try and sign him.”

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Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chiesa prediction, pick, start time, odds for UFC on ABC 7

Michael Chiesa shouldn’t have much trouble against whatever is left of the once-ferocious Tony Ferguson at UFC Abu Dhabi.

[autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] and [autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag] meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ABC 7 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. 

Last event: 3-2
UFC main cards, 2024: 64-56-3

Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chiesa UFC on ABC 7 preview

Justin Gaethje (TKO), Charles Oliveira (unanimous decision), Beneil Dariush (unanimous decision), Michael Chandler (knockout), Nate Diaz (submission), Bobby Green (submission), and Paddy Pimblett (unanimous decision): Yes, it’s been a tough slate dating back to May 2020, but seven losses in a row is still seven losses in a row. One more, and Ferguson (25-10 MMA, 15-8 UFC) will hold the UFC record for consecutive losses. Hard to believe Ferguson, who once was on an impressive 12-fight winning streak, has reached this point in his career. …Chiesa (16-7 MMA, 11-7 UFC) has reached a crossroads in his career, as well, caused by a combination of injuries and a current three-fight skid with losses to Vicente Luque, Sean Brady and most recently Kevin Holland in July 2023.

Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chiesa UFC on ABC 7 expert pick, prediction

Despite these two originally being booked to fight at lightweight back in 2016, Chiesa and Ferguson now find themselves meeting up a division over eight years later.

Although Ferguson still technically holds a winning record against UFC-level southpaws at 4-3, those stats hold little water given the stylistic dynamic of this matchup. And despite being a “Ferguson truther” during his cursed series with Khabib Nurmagomedov that never came to be, I find myself much less confident in the former interim champion these days.

I still believe that Ferguson – at one point – was the uncrowned king at 155 pounds. Those days, however, are long gone.

Even though D’arce chokes appear to be real-life kryptonite for Chiesa, I can’t help but see the more concentrated game of “Maverick” mowing through whatever is left of the once-ferocious Ferguson at this point in their perspective careers.

The pick is Chiesa to lock up a rear-naked choke by the beginning of Round 2.

Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chiesa UFC on ABC 7 odds

The oddsmakers and the public are heavily favoring the younger fighter, listing Chiesa -620 and Ferguson +430 via FanDuel.

Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chiesa UFC on ABC 7 start time, how to watch

Ferguson and Chiesa are expected to walk out to the cage at approximately 4 p.m. ET. The fight will air on ABC and stream on ESPN+.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.

Analyzing UFC on ABC 7: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, Tony Ferguson’s return, more

On the latest episode of “Spinning Back Clique,” the panel previews the key bouts at Saturday’s UFC on ABC 7 in Abu Dhabi.

There’s a big UFC event this weekend, with lots to discuss.

The octagon returns to Abu Dhabi with UFC on ABC 7 – an action-packed card with several important matchups. In the main event, top bantamweight contenders [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] and [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] clash in what may likely be a title eliminator bout. Additionally, [autotag]Shara Magomedov[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag], fan-favorite bantamweights [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] and [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag], clash, and [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] makes his return, among other matchups.

With a big Fight Night on the horizon, MMA Junkie’s Brian “Goze” Garcia, Nolan King, Danny Segura, and host “Gorgeous” George Garcia previewed and analyzed the biggest bouts on UFC on ABC 7.

Watch their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s complete episode below on YouTube and in podcast form.

https://www.youtube.com/live/9k7Kg6cunT4

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UFC on ABC 7 weigh-in video: Tony Ferguson, Michael Chiesa hit welterweight for must-win matchup

Tony Ferguson and Michael Chiesa have made weight for their UFC on ABC 7 fight that featured a combined 10 consecutive losses.

ABU DHABI – Eight years ago they were scheduled for a lightweight bout, but this time [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] and [autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag] will do battle at welterweight after making weight for UFC on ABC 7.

At official weigh-ins Friday morning on Yas Island, Ferguson (25-10 MMA, 15-8 UFC) and Chiesa (18-7 MMA, 11-7 UFC) made weight for their clash Saturday at Etihad Arena (ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+).

It’s a critical contest for both winners of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series. Former interim UFC champ Ferguson is fighting for his career after losing seven consecutive bouts, while Chiesa is in a desperate situation of his own with a three-fight losing skid.

Ferguson tipped the scale at 170 pounds for just his fifth welterweight fight under the UFC banner, while Chiesa was also 170 pounds for his eighth fight since leaving lightweight.

Watch the video above to see Ferguson and Chiesa make weight for UFC on ABC 7.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.

Michael Chiesa before UFC on ABC 7: ‘I would be a fool to overlook’ struggling Tony Ferguson

“I’m training for the guy that I was supposed to fight eight years ago,” Michael Chiesa said of Tony Ferguson before they meet at UFC on ABC 7.

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag] isn’t underestimating [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] heading into UFC on ABC 7.

Chiesa (16-7 MMA, 11-7 UFC) will look to hand Ferguson (25-10 MMA, 15-8 UFC) a UFC record eighth consecutive loss when the pair square off on Saturday’s main card (ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+) at Etihad Arena.

Prior to his seven-fight losing skid, Ferguson was owner of one of the most impressive winning streaks at lightweight, winning 12 in a row. That’s the version Chiesa is preparing for.

“I would be a fool to train for the Tony Ferguson that’s on a skid,” Chiesa told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at UFC on ABC 7 media day. “I would be a fool to overlook him given the current situation with his career. I’m training for the guy that I was supposed to fight eight years ago. I’m training for the guy I was supposed to fight in the midst of this crazy win streak that he was on.

“Just because he’s 0-7 in his last seven fights doesn’t take away his offense. It doesn’t take away his skills. It doesn’t take away his D’Arce choke. It doesn’t take away all the things that he does very well. I look at some of those fights and kind of put an asterisk next to them.”

Chiesa was scheduled to face Ferguson at UFC Fight Night 91 in July 2016 but withdrew due to a back injury. Eight years later, he gets the opportunity to potentially be Ferguson’s final fight in the octagon.

“Absolutely, especially because it’s unfinished business, but there’s no bad blood between us,” Chiesa said. “That doesn’t mean Tony is necessarily the type of fighter to walk up and dap you up during fight week, but him and I definitely have a mutual respect for each other, so I think I’m his best and last dance partner, and let’s just look at the numbers. I’m 36, I’m 0-3 in my last three fights. It’s a fight that makes sense. It’s not Paddy Pimblett, who’s rolling hot right now,

“It’s not Beneil Dariush, it’s not Charles Oliveira. It’s a fight that makes sense, so I feel like I’m the perfect dance partner for him. Him back at his original weight class that he won ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ at, TUF champ vs. TUF champ, a fight that never happened. I’m the guy. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to send him riding off into the sunset on a win. I’ve got to go out there and beat the guy, and I plan on finishing him.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.

Tony Ferguson doesn’t see UFC on ABC 7 as last fight, plans to do ‘some extraordinary sh*t’

Trying to avoid a historic eighth loss in a row, Tony Ferguson has every intention of doing his part to convince the UFC to keep him.

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] sees new life at welterweight ahead of UFC on ABC 7.

Ferguson (25-10 MMA, 15-8 UFC) will look to avoid the longest losing streak in UFC history when he takes on Michael Chiesa (16-7 MMA, 11-7 UFC) on Saturday’s main card (ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+) at Etihad Arena.

Ferguson has competed only once at 170 pounds since winning Season 13 of “The Ultimate Fighter” in 2011, but he sees it as a more natural fit. He thinks he should have stuck around at welterweight from the start.

“I feel heavy,” Ferguson told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at UFC on ABC 7 media day. “One hundred and seventy pounds is a lot better than 155. I don’t have to worry about cutting those last couple of pounds, which is amazing. I feel strong, I feel sharp, and I feel ready.”

UFC CEO Dana White said he hopes this is Ferguson’s last fight, but “El Cucuy” has no intention of walking away after Saturday, despite his current seven-fight losing streak.

“Well, we want Dana to do a lot of sh*t, too, so we can’t discredit that one either,” said Ferguson, who once won 12 fights in a row. “So I’m being real with it. At 170 pounds, I’m not killing myself to get to 155. I do feel fresher. One hundred and fifty-five pounds is closer to my high school wrestling weight. …

One hundred and seventy pounds, I feel comfortable. I don’t feel like this is going to be my last fight. I have to do some extraordinary sh*t, is what I’m planning to do. So, that’s why I feel sharp.”

Ferguson, 40, has no desire to fight outside of the octagon, and hopes the UFC remains his home.

“I love the UFC, and this is where I’m going to stay,” Ferguson said. “So, I have to earn that right. I do have seven losses, but who gets an eighth chance except for me? I don’t ever ask for a lot of sh*t, so I’m asking myself to go out there and do the best performance I possibly can so that way I can retain my spot. I do want to be here. I don’t want to go fight for another organization. Where the f*ck am I going to go? BKFC and have Conor (McGregor) work for me again? No, I don’t want to do that sh*t.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.

Spinning Back Clique REPLAY: Belal Muhammad & Tom Aspinall’s UFC 304 title wins, UFC on ABC 7 preview, more

On “Spinning Back Clique,” our panel discusses UFC 304, previews UFC on ABC 7 in Abu Dhabi and much more.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

This week’s panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Nolan King and Danny Segura will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate the following topics:

  • The UFC welterweight division has a new king. [autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag] defeated [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] in a dominant decision win in the main event of UFC 304. This is a big shake up for the division. Who should be Muhammad’s first challenger? Where does Edwards go from here? We discuss.
  • In the co-main event of UFC 304, [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] retained his UFC interim heavyweight title by stopping [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] in just 60 seconds. Did Aspinall prove he’s the best heavyweight on the planet? How does this result impact the expected title fight between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic? We break down the Englishman’s win, along with the state of the heavyweight division.
  • Aside from Muhammad and Aspinall’s wins, there were other important results at UFC 304. [autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag] viciously submitted veteran [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag][autotag]. [autotag]Muhammad Mokaev[/autotag] continued his unbeaten run, but may have seen his UFC career come to an end. [autotag]Gregory Rodrigues[/autotag],[autotag] Nathaniel Wood[/autotag] and [autotag]Arnold Allen[/autotag] picked up important wins. We discuss it all.
  • UFC on ABC 7 goes down Saturday, and the UFC has brought many impressive matchups to Abu Dhabi. From its main event in [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag], to [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag]’s return, the panel previews all the action.
  •  Beyond UFC 304 in Manchester and the upcoming UFC Abu Dhabi, there has been plenty of news since the last Spinning Back Clique episode. We highlight the biggest headlines to close out the show.

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Dana White hopes Tony Ferguson retires after UFC on ABC 7 regardless of result

UFC CEO Dana White hopes Tony Ferguson’s walk to the octagon at UFC on ABC 7 in August is the last of his storied career.

UFC CEO [autotag]Dana White[/autotag] hopes [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag]’s walk to the octagon at UFC on ABC 7 in August is the last of his storied career.

White has not shied away from calling for Ferguson (25-10 MMA, 15-8 UFC) to retire in the past as the beloved former interim UFC lightweight champion has seen his career spiral out of control with seven consecutive losses.

Although Ferguson’s skid has come to exclusively high-profile names in Paddy Pimblett, Bobby Green, Nate Diaz, Michael Chandler, Beneil Dariush, Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje, the performances have worsened. The version of “El Cucuy” who once put together a 13-fight UFC winning streak appears to be long gone, yet Ferguson continues to express his passion to compete.

Now Ferguson is booked again, with the UFC announcing this past month that he is set to face Michael Chiesa (18-7 MMA, 11-7 UFC) in a welterweight bout at UFC on ABC 7, which takes place Aug. 3 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. And White said that whether it’s a win or another loss, he wants this to be Ferguson’s final foray into the octagon.

“Yeah, I hope so,” White told MMA Junkie and other reporters at the UFC 302 post-fight news conference earlier this month in Newark, N.J. “Yeah. I would like to see him retire.”

Ferguson will be fighting to avoid a dubious all-time UFC record when he meets Chiesa. His seven-fight UFC losing skid currently is tied with B.J. Penn for the longest in company history, and another defeat would give him sole possession of a piece of the record books no fighter is clamoring for.

There’s a lot on the line for Ferguson at UFC on ABC 7 as he looks to get his hand raised for the first time since June 2019.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.