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Tony Ferguson is one of the most exciting and unpredictable fighters in the UFC. He has won 12 performance bonuses in his 18 UFC fights, and he holds the record for the longest winning streak in the lightweight division with 12 consecutive victories. He is also a former interim UFC lightweight champion, and he has fought some of the best fighters in the world.
However, Ferguson is also on a five-fight losing skid, which is the longest of his career. He has suffered defeats to Nate Diaz, Michael Chandler, Beneil Dariush, Charles Oliveira, and Justin Gaethje, all of whom are ranked in the top five of the division.
He has been outstruck, outgrappled, and outclassed by his opponents in his last five fights. He has also sustained some serious damage and injuries that may have affected his performance and confidence.
Many fans and pundits have called for Ferguson to retire, or at least take some time off to recover and reassess his career. However, Ferguson says he is not even thinking about that. He believes he is still in his prime, and he has a plan to get back to the top.
“I’m gonna be real with you guys. It’s always been cool, I feel at this time in my life that I’m just barely hitting my prime, which is crazy,” Ferguson said at UFC 291 media day. “One of my coaches, Juan, earlier we were doing mitts between interviews and I told him, ‘I’ve been getting up early and I just have to lay down.’”
Ferguson is confident that he can bounce back from his losing streak and prove his doubters wrong. He says he has made some adjustments in his training and mindset, and he is ready to face Bobby Green at UFC 291 this Saturday. Green is also a veteran fighter who has been in the UFC since 2013. He has won four of his last five fights, including a decision over Rafael Fiziev in his last outing.
Ferguson expects to beat Green and start a new title run. He says he has five more fights left in him before he can retire from the sport, and he wants to end his career with a UFC belt around his waist.
“F**k you, I’m gonna be done when I want to be done,” Ferguson said. “But I’m also gonna have to do what I have to do in order to get where I want to get. Five fights and a title, baby. I’m out.”
Ferguson is currently 25-8 as a pro and his last win came back in 2019 when he beat Donald Cerrone by TKO at UFC 2383. He is ranked number eight in the lightweight division, while Green is ranked number 14. The fight between them is expected to be a thrilling and competitive bout, as both fighters are known for their toughness and aggressiveness.