The Tony Ferguson tune and dance doesn’t in any respect appear to be it’ll have a contented ending.
When Ferguson was booked to battle his fellow previous winner of The Final Fighter Michael Chiesa at UFC Abu Dhabi, it had MMA followers scratching their heads for a number of causes. After seven consecutive losses, UFC CEO Dana White admitted he wished to see the one-time interim light-weight champion name it a profession with many in settlement. His return reserving got here as a shock alone, however to have Nick Diaz initially on the cardboard as nicely and never battle Ferguson was perplexing. If both needed to battle anyone, pairing them collectively felt like essentially the most, if not solely, acceptable possibility.
After his efficiency towards Chiesa this previous Saturday, Ferguson (25-11) admitted it was an excellent battle week, however he did really feel sluggish and sluggish within the octagon. Due to this fact, he misplaced by submission for the third time in 4 fights when Chiesa scored the first-round rear-naked choke. It was Ferguson’s first battle at welterweight since his fourth-round guillotine loss to Nate Diaz at UFC 279 in September 2022
“I felt sick,” Ferguson laughed in his UFC Abu Dhabi post-fight scrum (h/t The Mac Life). “I threw up most likely like possibly three or 4 occasions being nervous as f*ck. I normally don’t get nervous however within the again, I used to be form of yacking and dry-heaving, which was form of humorous how that works. That is the one sport that makes me try this. When it goes to every other factor, it’s form of fascinating the way it goes. I believe greater than the rest as a result of I wish to carry out to the very best of my means out right here, and I actually didn’t.
“There’s loads of issues, clearly, I have to work on nevertheless it’s all placing collectively. Clearly, getting in there and feeling extra snug inside that octagon.”
Ferguson, 40, has been reluctant to retire all through his record-setting streak of losses in UFC. Even after eight in a row, and being in higher spirits doubtless due to a loss with no injury, Ferguson is noncommital on the thought. He’ll return to his household, speak together with his spouse, and assess from there.
“I do know when it’ll [be time],” Ferguson stated. “There’s loads of issues that I can and may’t do. I simply teamed again up with my boy Anthony Gonzalez from American Health club. I felt this entire complete camp I had simply gotten again into sparring the place it was me placing myself again right into a group. You haven’t any concept how arduous that’s for me to have the ability to try this.”
The change in preparation was one thing Ferguson was very pleased with at this stage and in a normal sense, he defined. “El Cucuy” has traditionally been fairly non-public together with his inside circles and felt it “took balls” to confess assist was wanted by going again to having an “precise” group for a battle once more.
One other battle feels inevitable for Ferguson. In the end, it’s only a matter of whether or not or not the UFC desires to carry onto the perennial fan-favorite till the wheels fall even farther off. Nonetheless, Outdoors of MMA, Ferguson lightened up when pondering wrestling or grappling-type competitions.
“What we do is we go do one thing else,” Ferguson answered when requested if the UFC would let him go. “I’m gonna be actual, if these followers on the market are keen sufficient to come back out right here and fly and spend 1000’s of {dollars} to come back watch me compete someplace, I guaran-f*cking-tee you they’re gonna observe me someplace. That’s the humblest factor I can f*cking say as a result of regardless of the place I’m at, it doesn’t matter what I’m doing, I’m gonna get higher and higher and higher and higher. I really feel like these gray hairs proper right here with the blonde hair are form of slowly fading away, too. So, I might need to do one thing totally different.”
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Critic. Umar Nurmagomedov ‘not completely happy’ with Cory Sandhagen win, reveals recommendation Khabib gave him
Rivals. Khabib Nurmagomedov reacts to Tony Ferguson probably retiring after eighth straight UFC loss
Matchmaking. Jasmine Jasudavicius open to Erin Blanchfield battle subsequent: ‘Why not? Her group already studied to battle me’
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UFC Abu Dhabi Submit Present.
Full fights.
Poatan tats.
Burns’ Combat Camp.
Go to Twitter, use the #MorningReport hashtag, or discover one among my tweets with it, and drop me a jam you’re at the moment actually into. I’ll decide the very best one alongside my each day alternative and provide you with a shoutout! You can even share within the feedback under — these are simply tougher to sift by way of generally!
Operating to the subsequent one.
Fact…
Workforce.
Another camp.
Illustration.
Fisherman.
Sequence.
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— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) August 2, 2024
Wild.
Sheesh.
Double sheesh.
Triple sheesh.
Quadruple sheesh.
Reactions.
Kyle Nelson (16-5-1) vs. Steve Garcia (16-5); UFC Vegas 97, Sept. 7
Rob Font (20-8) vs. Kyler Phillips (12-2); UFC Vegas 99, Oct. 19
Geoff Neal (15-6) vs. Rafael Dos Anjos (32-16); UFC 308, Oct. 26
Robert Whittaker (26-7) vs. Khamzat Chimaev (13-0); UFC 308, Oct. 26
Magomed Ankalaev (19-1-1, 1 NC) vs. Aleksandar Rakic (14-4); UFC 308, Oct. 26
Ciryl Gane (12-2) vs. Alexander Volkov (38-10); UFC 308, Oct. 26
Ilia Topuria (15-0) vs. Max Holloway (26-7); UFC 308, Oct. 26
Marcos Rogério de Lima (22-9-1) vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu (12-5); UFC 308, Oct. 26
I respect Ferguson’s self-determination immensely. There’s bought to be a realization in some unspecified time in the future, although. Simpler stated than executed, I suppose.
Additionally, UFC 308 is trying mighty horny.
Thanks for studying!
Final Week’s Outcomes:
Friday: 75% of 438 complete votes answered “Michael Chiesa” when requested, “Who wins this weekend?” Chiesa defeated Tony Ferguson through first-round submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:44.
Thursday: 35% of 328 complete votes answered “Cory Sandhagen and Deiveson Figueiredo” when requested, “Who wins this weekend?” Umar Nurmagomedov defeated Sandhagen through unanimous choice (50–45, 49–46, 49–46) in UFC Abu Dhabi’s principal occasion. Figueiredo defeated Marlon “Chito” Vera through unanimous choice (29–28, 29–28, 30–27).
Wednesday: 57% of 565 complete votes answered “No” when requested, “Will Israel Adesanya retire if he loses at UFC 305?”
Tuesday: 51% of 449 complete votes answered “Sean O’Malley” when requested, “Who would win (no matter weight class)?”
Monday: 71% of 275 complete votes answered “No” when requested, “Will the UFC make an interim light-weight title if Islam Makhachev can’t defend earlier than the tip of 2024?”
Right now’s exit ballot:
Ballot
Is there any matchup in any sort of fight sport that you just’re considering seeing Tony Ferguson in?
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