Movies

Tony Ferguson makes history in the worst possible way

BBG News

As a long-time fan of mixed martial arts (MMA), I have to say that Tony Ferguson‘s career has been nothing short of extraordinary. From his days as a dominant force in the lightweight division, Ferguson was a fighter who always seemed to have an answer for every challenge thrown at him. However, it saddens me to see him struggle in recent years and tarnish that impressive legacy with his refusal to retire.

Once upon a time, Tony Ferguson was known for striking fear into the hearts of opponents in the lightweight division due to his formidable reputation. However, circumstances have shifted and it appears that Ferguson may be damaging the impressive legacy he built by choosing not to retire. This was evident at UFC Abu Dhabi, where Ferguson lost his 8th consecutive fight, breaking the previous record held by former UFC champion BJ Penn for most losses in a row, which stood at seven.

Ferguson’s misfortune began when he was defeated by Justin Gaethje during UFC 249, a bout initially planned as the much-awaited match against retired Khabib Nurmagomedov. Since then, he has suffered consecutive losses against Charles Oliveira, Beneil Dariush, Michael Chandler, Nate Diaz, Bobby Green, and Paddy Pimblett. His latest defeat was at the hands of Michael Chiesa in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi, losing via first-round submission.

Numerous individuals, among them UFC president Dana White, have advocated for Tony Ferguson to consider retirement. In a post-fight press conference following UFC 296, White expressed his desire for Ferguson’s retirement. “I would be thrilled if Tony retired,” White stated. He also pointed out Ferguson’s recent string of opponents and his appearance before the loss as factors influencing this suggestion. Specifically, White noted that Ferguson on the night in question seemed like a candidate for retirement.

Daniel Cormier, a two-time UFC champion, also expressed thoughts on the recent losses saying, “I feel like we might be reaching the end here. I don’t think Tony will decide to step down himself, but it seems that someone else may need to make that decision for him, such as the UFC or if he gets defeated so severely that his family decides fighting is no longer an option for him.”

During a UFC Abu Dhabi pre-fight media day, Ferguson replied to White’s remarks by saying, “To be fair, Dana has plenty of tasks on his plate too. So, we can’t dismiss that fact either. Honestly, at 170 pounds, I’m being truthful – I’m not pushing myself to make the 155 limit. I feel more energetic this way. For your calculations, my high school wrestling weight was around 152 pounds, so consider that. I’m 40 years old now and have been involved in sports for over 35 years.”

“Following my defeat against Chiesa, I didn’t fully retire from MMA, but I decided to take a step back. I’m keeping one hand in the game, so to speak, while giving myself some breathing room. It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later.”

Read More

2024-08-03 23:43

Previous post YouTuber Rubius teases potential Fortnite Icon Skin collab
Next post Is The Project cursed? All the disasters that have befallen Ten’s panel show over the years – after mid-air fire alarm caused mass evacuation