He has faced a rough patch in his career suffering six consecutive losses including a third-round submission defeat at the hands of Bobby Green at UFC 291.
Tony Ferguson was once a dominant force in the UFC lightweight division. He has faced a rough patch in his career suffering six consecutive losses including a third-round submission defeat at the hands of Bobby Green at UFC 291. UFC bantamweight standout Sean O’Malley believes that Ferguson deserves one more shot before hanging up his gloves on his 15-year career.
Ferguson’s last victory came in 2019, with a TKO win against UFC Hall of Famer Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone. Since then, the former interim champion has faced some of the toughest opponents in the division including Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, Beneil Dariush, Michael Chandler, Nate Diaz, and Bobby Green. O’Malley points out that Ferguson has been competing against top-tier fighters and suggests that one more opportunity against up-and-coming talents might help rebuild his confidence inside the cage.
“Tony Ferguson is on a six-fight losing streak,” O’Malley stated on the TimboSugarShow on YouTube. “Tony was eating them until he was sleeping on them… I say give him one more. Yeah, for sure. 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*cking turds.”
While Ferguson’s recent performances have been lackluster. It’s essential to recognize the level of competition he has faced. Each of his opponents is highly skilled and capable of taking on anyone in the division. Perhaps a step down in competition could provide Ferguson with the opportunity to regain some momentum and prove that he still belongs among the best in the lightweight division.
However, Ferguson’s latest defeat to Bobby Green was accompanied by some controversy. Early in the fight, Ferguson suffered an eye poke which impaired his vision and affected his performance. After the bout, Ferguson suggested that the eye poke was deliberate implying that Green intentionally fouled him during the fight. Green addressed the accusations on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, dismissing them and opting not to engage in any argument.
The eye poke incident adds to Ferguson’s recent frustrations and it’s natural for fighters to look for explanations after tough losses. While eye pokes are unfortunate occurrences in MMA determining intent is challenging and it’s essential not to jump to conclusions without clear evidence.
For more UFC news and updates
Read: UFC 291: Preview, Prediction, Fight Card, Where to Watch, Venue, and Tickets
Read: UFC 291 results: Justin Gaethje claims BMF title with stunning knockout victory Over Dustin Poirier
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