Tony Ferguson - Former Interim UFC Lightweight Champion & The Dark Horse

Tony Ferguson is an American MMA fighter. As a skilled and competitive fighter, he vies for victory in the Ultimate fighting Championship’s Lightweight Division. His UFC debut was in 2008, and since then he has been a UFC fighter. He was the former Interim UFC Lightweight Champion. He also trains in boxing, Muay Thai, wrestling, and Wing Chun. He is a Black Belt in 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu under Master Eddie Bravo.

Tony Ferguson was born on 12 February 1984 in Oxnard, California. But he was brought up in Muskegon, Michigan. His heritage is Mexican. His surname Ferguson is because of his Scottish-American Stepfather.

Being a high schooler Ferguson was interested in football, wrestling, and baseball. He was a pro athlete who played 3 sports at the Muskegon Catholic Central High School. He was specifically interested in wrestling.

In 2000, at the Division 8 State football match, Tony Ferguson acted as a secondary player for the football team.

Ferguson quickly made a name for himself as a force to be reckoned with on the wrestling mat. He became 3 times All State Champion in 2002. He won in the 69 Kg weight category.

After the completion of high school, Ferguson enrolled at Central Michigan University. His decision was influenced by the university’s wrestling program, which has a strong reputation for producing talented wrestlers.

In fact, Central Michigan's wrestling team has won multiple conference championships and has produced a number of All-Americans and National Champions over the years.

Given Ferguson’s impressive wrestling pedigree in high school, he saw Central Michigan as a way to continue developing his skills and potentially compete at the collegiate level. And that is why he chose Central Michigan University for his collegiate degree.

Though Tony Ferguson did not finish his degree, he benefited from a wrestling program. And because of that program he participated in the 2006 National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) and won the national championship in the 75 Kg weight division.

After college, Tony Ferguson returned to California. He worked 2 jobs in California to support himself financially. After returning from college in Michigan, he found himself in need of work and took on two jobs to make ends meet.

As an aspiring MMA fighter, Ferguson was likely aware that pursuing a career in the sport would be a difficult and uncertain path, particularly in the early stages of his career. By working two jobs, he was able to support himself while also pursuing his dreams in MMA. But while working, his dream got a bit sidelined as he had to focus on earning a living.

It was during Tony Ferguson’s struggling career that he worked in marketing and sales and as a bartender at night. One day when he was at his shift at the bar, an MMA fighter who was present at the bar saw his cauliflower ear. He asked Ferguson about his ear and Ferguson told him about his wrestling career. Little did Ferguson know that very soon he was going to pursue MMA professionally.

The MMA fighter who was a trainer at a local gym, invited Ferguson to train under him. Ferguson agreed to join a local MMA gym and then decided to pursue MMA professionally.

Ferguson competed in several BJJ tournaments during his early years of training, including the Gracie Open and NAGA (North American Grappling Association) competitions. He quickly gained a reputation as a skilled and formidable competitor, winning multiple championships in various weight classes.

Ferguson’s BJJ skills have also been on display in his MMA fights, where he has frequently utilized his grappling and submission techniques to win matches. He is known for his aggressive style on the ground, and his ability to transition quickly between positions and submissions.

Tony Ferguson is a well-known mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter who has gained a reputation for his unorthodox fighting style. His style is characterized by a combination of striking, grappling, and wrestling techniques that make him a formidable opponent in the octagon.

Ferguson is known for his ability to stay calm and composed during fights, even in the face of adversity. He uses his footwork and movement to keep his opponents off balance, making it difficult for them to land clean shots. He is also an excellent striker, with a diverse range of techniques including kicks, punches, elbows, and knees.

In addition to his striking skills, Ferguson is also a skilled grappler and wrestler. He has a strong ground game, with a particular emphasis on submissions. He is known for his ability to transition seamlessly between different positions on the ground, and for his creativity in finding submission opportunities.

One of the most distinctive features of Ferguson’s fighting style is his use of unorthodox techniques. He is known for his spinning backfists, his unconventional footwork, and his ability to improvise in the moment to find openings for strikes and submissions.

Overall, Tony Ferguson’s fighting style is a unique blend of striking, grappling, and wrestling techniques, combined with his exceptional athleticism and creativity at the moment. His ability to adapt to different opponents and situations has made him one of the most exciting fighters to watch in the MMA world today.

Ferguson started his professional MMA career in 2007. He fought in small organizations in California in 2007.

In September 2008, Tony Ferguson competed at the Total Fighting Alliance 12 against Joe Schilling. He won the fight via Rear Naked Choke in the 2nd round.

At the World Extreme Cagefighting, Tony Ferguson lost the fight against Karen Darabedyan via unanimous decision.

UFC was Ferguson’s big dream. He applied to the UFC’s Reality Series, The Ultimate Fighter, many times. In 2010, at last he got selected to compete in the tournament. His MMA record in 2010 was 10-2. He had also won the welterweight championship in PureCombat. He competed in The Ultimate Fighter: Team Lesnar Vs. Team dos Santos in the welterweight division.

He had three fights for Team Lesnar. He won the first fight against Justin Edwards via knockout in the first round. In the second fight, Ferguson defeated Ryan McGillivray by TKO. In the semifinals, Ferguson defeated Chuck O’Neil by TKO punches. And that is how Tony Ferguson smoothly went to compete in the UFC.

Tony Ferguson made his UFC debut in June 2011 at The Ultimate Fighter Finale against Ramsey Nijem. He won the fight in the first round via knockout punches. Tony Ferguson received the Knockout of the Night bonus.

Tony Ferguson after his first victory came back for the win. He competed against Aaron Riley at UFC 135 in September 2011. After the first round Aaron Riley suffered from a broken jaw. So the fight was stopped and Ferguson was declared winner via TKO.

Tony Ferguson defeated Yves Edwards via unanimous decision at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale in December 2011.

On 5 May, 2012 Ferguson was scheduled to fight against Dennis Hallman at UFC on Fox: Diaz Vs. Miller. But unfortunately, Hallman pulled out of the fight because of an injury. Thiago Tavares replaced Hallman but later on he himself pulled out of the fight. In the end, Ferguson fought against Michael Johnson but lost the fight via unanimous decision.

The lost fight with Michael Johnson turned out to be devastating for Ferguson. He suffered from an arm injury. He took a year off fighting and then returned to UFC but still he had not recovered from the damages. He fought against Mike Rio at UFC 166 on 19 October 2013. Despite the injury, Ferguson submitted his opponent via Darce Choke. He was awarded with the “Submission of the Night” award.

At UFC 173, Ferguson competed against Katsunori Kikuno in May 2014 and won the fight by KO punches in the first round.

Actually Ferguson was scheduled to compete against Danny Castillo at UFC 176 but the fight got rescheduled at UFC 177 on 30 August, 2014. Ferguson won the fight via split decision.

At UFC 181, Ferguson submitted Abel Trujillo via Rare Naked Choke in the second round in December 2014.

At UFC 184, Ferguson competed against Gleison Tibau and won the fight via Rare Naked Choke in the first round. He was awarded with the
“Performance of the Night” bonus on his tremendous performance.

At UFC Fight Night 71, Ferguson competed against Josh Thomson in July 2015. Via unanimous decision, Ferguson won the fight and earned his second consecutive “Performance of the Night” bonus.

At the Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale, Ferguson was scheduled to compete against Khabib Nurmagomedov. But the fight got canceled because of Khabib’s sudden injury. Ferguson then fought against Edson Barboza. Ferguson won the fight via Brabo Choke in the second round. Ferguson won his third consecutive “Performance of the Night bonus” and a “Fight of the Night'' bonus.

At UFC on Fox 19, Ferguson was supposed to fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov, but he pulled out because of his lung issue. Darrell Horcher then replaced Ferguson.

In early 2020, Tony Ferguson was scheduled to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov for the UFC lightweight title, but the fight was canceled due to the COVID-19. During this time, Ferguson continued to train and prepare for the fight. However, it was later revealed that he had suffered a lung issue during his training camp.

The specific details of Ferguson’s lung issue were not publicly disclosed, but it was reported that he experienced difficulty breathing and had to undergo medical treatment. Some sources indicated that Ferguson may have suffered a collapsed lung or a lung infection, but these speculations were later proved wrong.

Despite the setback, Ferguson was determined to return to the octagon as soon as possible. He continued to train and was eventually booked to fight Justin Gaethje in May 2020. However, he lost the fight by TKO in the fifth round, and it was later revealed that he had suffered several injuries during the fight, including a broken orbital bone.

At UFC Fight Night 91, Ferguson was supposed to fight against Michael Chiesa in July 2016. But Chiesa pulled out of the fight because of some injuries. Lando Vannata replaced Chiesa. Ferguson defeated Vannata via Brabo Choke in the second round.

Ferguson competed against Rafael dos Anjos at the Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale. Via unanimous decision, Ferguson won the fight. Both fighters were awarded with “Fight of the Night”. This was Ferguson’s 6th fight of the night bonus.

At UFC 216, Ferguson defeated Kevin Lee via Triangle Choke in the third round. Ferguson then became the Interim UFC Lightweight Champion.

At UFC 223, Ferguson's fight with Khabib was arranged for the fourth time. But this time it again got canceled because of Ferguson’s torn fibular collateral ligament.

According to reports, Ferguson was doing a promotional media obligation for the UFC when he turned around quickly and his foot got caught in a camera cable. This sudden movement caused his knee to twist awkwardly, resulting in the tear to his fibular collateral ligament.

Ferguson faced Justin Gaethje at UFC 249 in May 2020 for the interim UFC Lightweight Championship. The fight was highly anticipated and was expected to be a battle between two of the most exciting fighters in the division. However, Ferguson suffered a TKO loss in the fifth round after absorbing significant damage throughout the fight

Ferguson returned to the octagon in December 2020 to face Charles Oliveira at UFC 256. Oliveira dominated the fight, out striking and out grappling Ferguson en route to a unanimous decision victory. It was the first time in Ferguson's career that he had lost back-to-back fights.

Ferguson faced Beneil Dariush at UFC 262 in May 2021 in an attempt to get back on track. However, Dariush proved to be too much for Ferguson, dominating the fight with his grappling and winning a unanimous decision.

AT UFC 274, Ferguson fought against Michael Chandler. Unfortunately, he lost the fight via knockout in the second round.

At UFC 279, Nate Diaz submitted Ferguson via Guillotine Choke in the fourth round. It was Ferguson’s fifth consecutive loss.

Ferguson’s five-fight losing streak was a significant setback in his career, and it raised questions about whether he was still a top contender in the UFC’s lightweight division. Despite the losses, Ferguson remains a fan favorite and a dangerous opponent for anyone in the division, and he is expected to continue competing at the highest level of the sport.

Tony Ferguson fought Edson Barboza on December 11, 2015, at The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight was in the lightweight division and was the co-main event of the evening.

In the first round, Barboza started off strong with his trademark striking skills, landing powerful leg kicks and punches. Ferguson, however, remained composed and started to pick up his pace as the round progressed. He began to find his range and landed some significant strikes of his own, including a few jabs and uppercuts.

In the second round, Ferguson came out aggressive and started showcasing his unorthodox striking style. He landed a series of punches and kicks that seemed to catch Barboza off guard. However, Barboza was still dangerous and landed a few powerful leg kicks that had Ferguson limping towards the end of the round.

Both fighters continued to exchange strikes with Ferguson landing some significant punches and Barboza landing some powerful kicks. Towards the end of the second round, Ferguson successfully submitted Barboza via Brabo Choke and won the “Fight of the Night”.

Tony Ferguson fought Ramsey Nijem on June 4, 2011, at The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Both Ferguson and Nijem were contestants on the thirteenth season of the Ultimate Fighter reality show.

The fight began with Nijem coming forward aggressively, throwing punches and kicks. However, Ferguson quickly took control of the fight and began to land strikes of his own. He hit Nijem with a left hook that sent him to the ground, and then followed up with a barrage of strikes on the ground. Ferguson placed his leg inside Nijem’s guard and landed punches on his head.

The finish came at 3:54 of the first round, and it was a TKO victory for Tony Ferguson. The win earned him a UFC contract and the title of the “Ultimate Fighter” for season 13.

Overall, Ferguson showed superior striking skills and aggression in the fight, quickly taking control and finishing Nijem with a series of strikes on the ground. It was a dominant performance by Ferguson and one that helped launch his successful UFC career.

Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee fought in the main event of UFC 216 on October 7, 2017. The fight was for the interim UFC lightweight title.

The first round of the fight was a back-and-forth affair, with both fighters landing strikes and attempting takedowns. In the end of the second round, Lee had Ferguson pinned to the ground and landed heavy punches.

However, in the second round, Lee began to take control, landing heavy punches and taking Ferguson down to the mat.

 Ferguson, who is known for his unorthodox and unpredictable style, was able to use his grappling skills to work his way out of several dangerous positions on the ground. He also landed a number of strikes showing off his creativity and versatility.

Known as the patient wolf, Ferguson began to turn the tide. He landed a big punch that staggered Lee and then took him down. From there, Ferguson was able to take Lee's back and sink in a deep triangle choke.

Despite Lee's best efforts to defend the submission, Ferguson was able to tighten the choke and force the tap. He won the “Interim UFC Lightweight Champion” and earned a shot at McGregor.

The fight was an exciting and competitive affair, with both fighters showing off their skills and heart. Ferguson’s victory was a testament to his resilience and adaptability, as he was able to weather the storm in the early rounds and then come back to finish the fight in spectacular fashion.

Tony Ferguson and Anthony Pettis fought on October 6th, 2018 in the co-main event of UFC 229. The fight was scheduled for three rounds in the lightweight division, and it was held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The fight started off with both fighters throwing a lot of kicks and strikes at each other. Tony Ferguson was particularly effective with his unorthodox strikes, throwing spinning back fists and elbows that seemed to catch Pettis off-guard. Pettis, meanwhile, was landing some good leg kicks and punches of his own.

Ferguson had recently recovered from his knee injury and Pettis targeted his legs and went after his knees. Pettis’ knee kicks had Ferguson limping throughout the fight. As the first round wore on, Ferguson began to take control of the fight. He was landing more strikes and was also able to take Pettis down to the ground, where he was able to land some punches.

In the second round, Pettis came out strong and was able to land some hard shots on Ferguson. However, Ferguson was able to handle those punches and eventually took Pettis down. From there, he was able to work his ground and pound, opening up a cut on Pettis’ forehead.

The third round was a back-and-forth affair, with both fighters having their moments. Pettis was able to land some good strikes, but Ferguson continued to pressure him and was able to take him down one more time. In the end, it was clear that Ferguson had done enough to win the fight. So Ferguson won the fight via TKO corner stoppage.

Both fighters showed a lot of heart and skill, but in the end, it was Tony Ferguson who emerged victorious.

• 1 Time Interim Lightweight Champion
• The Ultimate Fighter 13 Winner
• Fighter of the Year
• 6 Times Received “Fight of the Night” Award
• Knockout of the Night
• Submission of the Night
• 3 Times Received “Performance of the Night” Award
• Tied with Khabib Nurmagomedov for the “Longest Win Streak in Lightweight Division History”

Award: Welterweight Champion

Edson Barboza vs Tony Ferguson - Lightweight Bout (Highlights)

UFC Debut: Tony Ferguson vs Ramsey Nijem | Free Fight

Тони Фергюсон vs Кевин Ли: Вспоминаем бой

Тони Фергюсон vs Энтони Петтис: Вспоминаем бой

Photo credits: @tonyfergusonxt, Tony "El Cucuy" Ferguson