From 2013 to 2019, Tony Ferguson was a dominant force in the Lightweight division, earning the nickname "El Cucuy."
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From 2013 to 2019, Tony Ferguson was a dominant force in the Lightweight division, earning the nickname “El Cucuy.” With an impressive streak of 12 consecutive victories, many of which ended in finishes, he secured an interim title. However, his much-anticipated fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov never came to fruition, adding to the notion of being “cursed.” Instead, he faced challenges, including cutting weight twice for his 2020 bout against Justin Gaethje at UFC 249, leading to a series of setbacks.
Gaethje delivered a punishing performance, relentlessly battering Ferguson for the majority of five rounds until the referee intervened and stopped the intense contest. Following that defeat, it became evident that Ferguson had lost some of his momentum. Unfortunately, he went on to suffer five consecutive losses in his subsequent fights, including his most recent appearance at UFC 291 against Bobby Green on Saturday, July 29, 2023.
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As Tony Ferguson reaches 39 years of age, the uncertainty surrounding his fighting future intensifies. Many fellow athletes and fans are urging him to consider retirement, but Ferguson remains defiant and shows no signs of walking away from the sport. However, with a six-fight losing streak, the decision to continue competing may soon be out of his hands.
Amidst the challenges, Tony Ferguson has found an unexpected supporter in top-ranked Bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley. O’Malley believes that the former interim champion should be granted a final opportunity, primarily because Ferguson’s recent losses have come against a highly elite class of competitors.
“Tony Ferguson (is) on a six-fight losing streak,” O’Malley began on the “Timbo Sugar Show” podcast. “‘Entering his prime’ though so that’s f—king encouraging if you’re a Tony Ferguson fan. Bobby Green looked slick on the feet, throwing his one-twos, his two-ones, from his hip, fast as f—k. Tony was eating them until he was sleeping on them.”
“I say give him one more,” O’Malley continued. “I don’t (want to count him out) … Listen to who he lost to: (Justin) Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, Beneil Dariush, Michael Chandler, Nate Diaz, Bobby Green. He’s not losing to f—king turds.”
As of now, the UFC’s decision regarding Tony Ferguson’s future remains uncertain. It is doubtful that the UFC would be willing to let “El Cucuy” compete against lower-ranked opponents in pursuit of a more favorable matchup. Given Ferguson’s substantial salary, the UFC is not typically known for organizing charity fights. However, there is a possibility that such an arrangement could occur, potentially leading Ferguson to fight in order to prevent tying the record for the longest UFC losing streak of seven, held by fellow UFC Lightweight legend BJ Penn.
Regarding O’Malley, he has a significant event ahead as he is set to challenge Aljamain Sterling for the Bantamweight title at UFC 292. The highly anticipated fight is scheduled to take place in just a couple of weeks, precisely on August 19, 2023, within the confines of TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
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