As someone who can finish his opponents on the feet and on the ground, lightweight rising contender Tony Ferguson may be one of the most overlooked names in the game today.
His ability to utilize his range and sink in his infamous chokes makes El Cucuy one of the most dangerous outs in the division.
But throughout his lengthy tenure with the UFC, Ferguson has never faced an animal like Josh Thomson before Wednesday night.
Since his arrival onto the promotional scene, The Punk has surely had his ups and downs at 155 pounds, but he remains one of the most well-rounded entities gracing the Top 10. MMA Fighting’s Marc Raimondi is clearly impressed by his work inside the Octagon:
But it was Ferguson who outlasted the veteran Wednesday night by pressuring with crisp strikes, scrambles, submission attempts and blistering front kicks en route to an impressive unanimous-decision victory.
Here is what we learned from the mid-week lightweight tilt:
What We’ll Remember About This Fight
There aren’t many lightweights in the world capable of withstanding the punishment that Thomson endured opposite Ferguson on Wednesday night.
With sensational footwork, angling, front kicks, defensive scrambles and rolls, penetrating elbows and dangerous submission attempts, Thomson was battered beyond comprehension.
His effort is a testament to his will to win and ability to absorb damage to still implement his own offensive outbursts, which included some third-round spinning back fists.
Needless to say, this is the outcome that many people would have pointed to.
Ferguson utilized his reach, timely pressure and scrappy demeanor to ward off a veteran in search of a big victory.
What We Learned About Thomson
It was a rough go for Thomson this time around, but he’s still one of the most game lightweights in the sport today.
After taking copious amounts of punishment in the first two rounds, The Punk still had the wherewithal to launch spinning back fists and lunging power shots.
Although he was accurate when needed and showcased elite submission defense, Thomson was unable to land in succession.
It prohibited him from hurting Ferguson and warding off the hungry contender’s pressure and persistence.
What We Learned About Ferguson
Ferguson has now racked off six Octagon victories in a row, which is a streak hard to come by nowadays.
At this point in time, it’s difficult to imagine a scenario where El Cucuy is outmatched at every turn.
He incorporates one of the most well-rounded arsenals in the division, which is evident by his ability to overwhelm Thomson with crisp striking, elbows from guard, defensive scrambles and flying knees.
If we learned anything different about Ferguson in comparison to past performances, it would be his ability to implement his high-level game against Top 10 competition.
What’s Next for Thomson
As a fighter on the back end of his career and riding a three-fight losing streak, it would surprise many people to see Thomson retire.
But considering he’s not being put to sleep like many aging veterans unwilling to hang it up, it’s likely that we see him at least one more time.
He still carries a big name in this sport and can obviously weather any storm thrown his way.
A future matchup opposite rising lightweight contender and featherweight exile Dustin Poirier would be an odds-on favorite to win Fight of the Night.
What’s Next for Ferguson
Ferguson is finally starting to garner the respect and popularity he deserves.
As a guy who has compiled a 9-1 record inside the Octagon, it’s time he finally cracks the Top 10 and earns a fight against a true contender.
A few names come to mind, but the winner of Edson Barboza vs. Paul Felder at UFC on Fox 16 later this month makes the most sense.
Of course, a guy like Eddie Alvarez is always a good choice.
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