Tony Ferguson, a former interim lightweight champion, found himself on the unfortunate receiving end of one of those finishes.
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The decline of Tony Ferguson has been a challenging spectacle to witness. As UFC 291 unfolded in Salt Lake City, offering a night filled with almost a dozen electrifying finishes, Ferguson, a former interim lightweight champion, found himself on the unfortunate receiving end of one of those finishes.
In the main card showdown, Tony Ferguson faced off against Bobby “King” Green, which followed a remarkable display by Kevin Holland against the returning Michael Chiesa, culminating in a first-round d’arce choke. Holland’s victory marked the fourth submission on the card. As the seasoned lightweight veterans took the stage, Ferguson took the initiative, initiating grappling early on with an impressive takedown.
Apart from a brief knockdown and a takedown, Ferguson’s achievements during the fight were relatively limited, and a severe eye poke seemed to hinder his vision. Ultimately, “El Cucuy” fell victim to a third-round arm-triangle choke in the final moments of the bout, leading to his sixth consecutive loss. Addressing the outcome and contemplating his future, the 39-year-old Ferguson took to Instagram on Sunday to share his thoughts.
“Walked into the Delta Center to show the world I was back on track. The preparation for this fight was exceptional & it was one of the best camps I’ve had.
“As the fight began, I was in the Xone, flowing & feeling confident. Bobby knew the direction of the fight & I believe he knew what he was doing when he poked my eye. He has a big History of moves like this. It significantly impaired my vision, making it difficult to see clearly out of my eye. Despite this eye poke I never considered stopping the fight. Although the doc wanted too. Throughout my career, I’ve always pushed through challenges & never given up This time was no different.
“Unfortunately in sports, setbacks like this are part of the journey While I won’t use the eye poke as an excuse for the outcome, I know for a fact I have more to give.
Moving forward, I plan to work closely with Dana, Hunter & my entire team to assess what’s next.
“I’d like to take a moment to say thank you to my Wife, my Family & my Fans. Your support means the world to me & it’s what drives me to keep pushing forward & striving for greatness. Thank you all for being by my side through the highs & lows of this sport that I love. Eye appointment tomorrow, some recovery & back after it. Love you all- Champ -CSO- #ufc291 Salt Lake City, Utah #AyMoe WooWooWooWoo Knyuck knyuck knyuck #ballsofsteel #FuckEm’IfTheyCantTakeAJoke”
With the latest defeat, Ferguson’s career tally of losses reached nine, leaving him with an overall record of 25-9. It’s quite a contrast to his past historic run when he achieved 12 consecutive wins in his division. Back in May 2020, before his interim title clash with Justin Gaethje, no one could have foreseen the current challenging stretch he is facing.
Many view Ferguson’s matchup against Gaethje as the beginning of his decline, as a series of injuries and canceled bouts against Khabib Nurmagomedov eventually culminated in that pivotal moment. In contrast, Gaethje’s career has taken an upward trajectory, rising to new heights, highlighted by his BMF title victory during the main event of UFC 291 against Dustin Poirier.
