Is Tony Ferguson’s Career Over? The downfall and doubtful future of El Cucuy’s UFC career

BY MARCEL MARIAK

One of the primary reasons why combat sports have been so popular throughout history is their unpredictability. From the gladiatorial combat of Ancient Rome to the highly technical engagements of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, people have been drawn to combat for millennia for one primary reason: the game can change in the blink of an eye. This is an attribute that few other sports and competitions share. In soccer, for example, once a team has a 4 – 0 lead, you might as well go home early and beat the traffic: not in combat sports. In the fight world, it’s common to see a fighter who’s been losing the entire battle to defeat his opponent with a single stunning strike or timely submission. This uncertainty is what keeps fans glued to their screens till the final bell. As it turns out, the unpredictability of combat sports extends past the ring and into the boardroom.

Ferguson’s Impressive Resume
Tony ‘El Cucuy’ Ferguson is a famous UFC fighter, who up until recently, boasted an impressive 12-fight winning streak. He rose to fame in the UFC organization after winning The Ultimate Fighter #13. Tony also made a name for himself online with his entertaining antics and unorthodox training routines which involved kicking metal pipes and suspending himself from the ceiling using bungee cords. He has defeated several big UFC names in his 12-year long career including Kevin Lee and Cowboy Cerrone.

Ferguson was supposed to fight former Lightweight Champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, in late 2015 but the fight fell through after Khabib got injured in training. The battle was subsequently rescheduled and cancelled four more times for 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020, with the bout being cancelled due to health issues on both sides and the coronavirus pandemic. After the fourth cancellation, Ferguson agreed to fight Justin Gaethje for the Interim Lightweight Title. While many in the combat sports community predicted an overwhelming victory for Ferguson, fate had other plans. Unfortunately, this bout would be the beginning of a downward spiral for Tony’s career.

Tony’s Cracked Chin
Sadly, for the fans hoping to see Ferguson challenge Khabib for the belt, Justin Gaethje made an incredible showing at UFC 249. Gaethje used his hard-hitting brawling style of fighting to keep Tony on his heels throughout the fight. Tony was unable to answer back with any significant strikes as his opponent wore him down throughout the fight. In the fifth round, Gaethje hit his foe with several powerful strikes that wobbled Ferguson and caused the referee to end the match. This defeat marked the first time in Tony’s career that he had been defeated by knockout; and as his winning streak shattered, so did his chin.

Jump to UFC 256 on December 12^th, 2020. Tony Ferguson stepped back into the cage against famous submission fighter, Charles Olivera. Once again, Tony’s fans were hopeful that their favourite warrior would be able to capture a victory and re-inject some momentum into his career. Once again, the odds weren’t in his favour. The fight was largely dominated by Olivera. Despite his best efforts, Ferguson seemed to be on his back foot the entire bout. At the end of the first round, Olivera put a killer armbar on Ferguson as the round was coming to a close. For over 8 seconds, Ferguson refused to submit to the brutal armbar and was saved by the bell. Despite narrowly avoiding a first-round submission defeat, Ferguson’s arm was clearly injured by the attack, with UFC commentators Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier exclaiming, “I couldn’t even watch, I was looking away. He might have broken his arm.” Throughout the rest of the bout, Olivera continued to hurt Ferguson with smart takedowns and accurate striking. When the final bell rang after three rounds, it was clear who won. Olivera took home the victory by unanimous decision and Tony sank deeper into his slump.

Ferguson’s Retirement Looms
After the fight, UFC president, Dana White had some harsh words to say about Ferguson. He said that despite Tony being an incredibly talented and tough fighter, “It’s possible Tony Ferguson is on a decline. He needs to go home, take some time off, and think about what he wants to do next year.” Although White didn’t directly call for Ferguson’s retirement, it’s clear that the president believes that Tony’s time in the organization has run out. With Ferguson on a two-fight losing streak, and with younger, more athletic fighters demonstrating their ability to beat him, there’s a good chance that El Cucuy may soon be a piece of UFC history.