Tony Ferguson has clarity about his career after his viral knockout loss to Michael Chandler at UFC 274.
Ferguson (25-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC), a former interim UFC lightweight champion, was stopped by strikes for the first time in his career this past weekend when Chandler (23-7 MMA, 2-2 UFC) caught him with a highlight-reel front kick to the face. The outcome extended Fergusonās losing skid to four fights, and raised questions about his future.
Although it might seem like a grim situation from the outside, Ferguson is internalizing it well. He knows he had a strong first round before being halted by Chandlerās epic kick just 16 seconds into the second frame, and he thinks minor mistakes not only cost him the victory ā but also led to his defeat.
āI got knocked the fck out,ā Ferguson told MMA Junkie in his first interview since UFC 274. āI donāt want that sht to ever happen again. It couldāve, one ā been prevented ā and two, I shouldāve had him finished in the first round. As soon as I knocked him down. The little basics that I couldāve did to make sure I couldāve got out in the first round, and everybody would be kissing my ass. But God works in mysterious ways, and heās not ready yet, son. He had me sit down and take a nap and rest for a second, because I work my ass off this camp with this humility that people want to present to me. Iām a new man. I donāt care. Iāve been to hell and back and Iām here now. Reborn again. And Iām here to take over.
āThereās only so much humility a man can go through. Iāve been through it all, right? Iāve had my belt stripped ā I donāt have to go back and refurbish all that stuff. But going back and looking at it, the first round I didnāt do too bad. I was having fun in there, I had a good fight week. I started loosening up in there more toward the fight, which was fun. It was really good to be back in there, Iāll be real. Except for the second round. The second round, Iām still kind of flabbergasted why I was backing up.ā
Fergusonās primary goal moving forward is to right the ship. He thinks that starts with his preparation.
For the majority of Fergusonās tenure as a top-ranked lightweight in the UFC, he has not been part of what would widely be considered a traditional training camp. He has not been engrained with one of the well-known mega-gyms across the United States, and has followed a more boxing-style route where he works with a hand-selected group of coaches and training partners.
Ferguson said he believes itās time for that to change, though. He said heās spoken to a number of high-profile individuals about training together, and sees an opportunity to change his ways.
āIāve had āPit Masterā reach out to me ā John Hackleman,ā Ferguson said. āYou have Jackson-Wink, as well. You have Syndicate out in Vegas. You have the UFC P.I. You have many, many people. But I havenāt put myself out there. I put myself away from the interviews, I put myself away from the teams thinking I could do this by myself. And I did it. Iāve done this by myself for a very long time with the help of a select few individuals, and Iāve been very fortunate to have that. But Iām ready to be part of a team again. It was only when my team broke up that I felt really hurt that I moved areas, that I moved situations, switched management and all the above. I have to open myself up again to being coached at a high level. Especially in my sport.
āItās very important that you have a very good relationship with (coaches) so theyāre not sending you into battle to get hurt. Iāve been very fortunate the last couple of camps, and Iāve been very fortunate that Iāve walked out OK. And I pray to God every day that I walked out of that cage. Not coherent, but I was able to wake up. I donāt remember sitting on the stool. I donāt remember barely the second round. I donāt remember talking to Chuck Liddell, and I donāt remember walking out and seeing the fans. All I remember was looking at my coach and the lights kind of went to fade in, like a movie director. Iām walking with my coach and I look at him and I already knew it. Iām like, āF*ck, I lost.āā
Ferguson, 38, was issued a 60-day medical suspension by the Arizona Boxing & MMA Commission in the aftermath of his loss to Chandler at UFC 274 in Phoenix. UFC president Dana White said post-fight that he would like to see Ferguson take an extended layoff from competition.
It remains to be seen when āEl Cucuyā will step back into the octagon. However, itās something thatās going to happen.
Ferguson knows there are critics who question the current state of his career, despite all his losses coming to the elite at 155 pounds in Chandler, Beneil Dariush, Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje. He was unequivocal in stating that his passion for the fight game is at an all-time peak, and he has no intentions of walking away.
Once Ferguson finds a training situation that he believes in, the conversation about when he steps back into the octagon can begin.
āWhat Iāve always done is call my shots with the UFC,ā Ferguson said. āIām a shot-caller with the UFC. Any time I want a fight I always bring myself presentable. My relationship with Dana is decent. I might say a couple things and act on it, but thatās not me retaliating. Thatās me defending myself. Thatās me being able to speak and have balls. Be a man. For a while there I felt like I had to be quiet and earn my respect and earn my value, but I stopped worrying about all that sh*t.
āWhen Iām ready to fight I will let the UFC know, and I guarantee you theyāll let me know, too, āHey, this is who we have.ā I was ready for (Islam) Makhachev in Abu Dhabi if some things wouldāve been a little bit different. But I try to take these opportunities and present them so Iām there for the company. They know Iām a company man, and thatās why they said Iām not going anywhere.ā
He damn sure needs to get rid of the dude who yelled give me some sand and thinks thatās a good thing to do during a MMA fight thatās for certain lol