It’s been quite the ride for Tony Ferguson this year, as he’s had opponents pull out left and right throughout the course of his 2015 season.
Ferguson was originally set to meet grappling phenom Khabib Nurmagomedov at The Ultimate Fighter Season 22 Finale (TUF 22 Finale), however, the Russian was forced to pull out of the contest due to an injury.
Michael Johnson was briefly scheduled to meet ‘El Cucuy’ at UFC 196, but Johnson was also forced to pull out due to injury and was replaced by Nurmagomedov at UFC on FOX 19. Unfortunately Ferguson suffered an injury of his own that forced him out of the Nurmagomedov contest, and would later be scheduled against Michael Chiesa at UFC Fight Night 91.
Alas the injury bug would strike again, as Chiesa injured his back during training camp and would be replaced by UFC newcomer Landon Vannata. Vannata and Ferguson put on quite the show at last night’s (July 13, 2016) UFC Fight Night 91, as Vannata almost got the better of the lightweight veteran with a thunderous head-kick in the first round.
Ferguson would ultimately go on to submit Vannata after surviving the rookie’s striking clinic in the first round, and proceeded to call out the newly-crowned UFC lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez, as well as Nurmagomedov whom he has missed two previous set dates with.
Following the contest Ferguson joined FOX Sports, courtesy of MMA Fighting, to discuss his performance against Vannata as well as crediting the Jackson-Wink product for his impressive performance:
“We were preparing for Michael Chiesa,” Ferguson said. “So, I think if anything, I was just more prepared for a wrestler and I underestimated his [Vannata] standup, but after just getting hit a couple of times, it’s exactly what I wanted and that’s just the type of fighter I am, and I battled through it, and took some of his hardest shots, and put fear in his face.”
With his victory over Vannata, ‘El Cucuy’ is ready for title contention and proceeded to call out 155-pound champ Alvarez and the No. 2-ranked Nurmagomedov to throw down with him next:
“All my performances are right there to put me on title contention,” said Ferguson. “This fight was a short-notice fight. I know he wasn’t ranked, but it was a very risky chance to come in there and take the short-notice fight.
Props to Lando Vannata and props to JacksonWink over in Albuquerque, but every single fight is there and I’m ready for it. If Eddie Alvarez wants to sign that dotted line, or if he wants an easy fight, go ahead and fight Conor [McGregor], but I’m a hard type fight.
I’m not someone to joke around with. And with [Rafael dos Anjos], you have Khabib Nurmagomedov. I’d love to get that fight against Khabib and maybe we’ll go on The Ultimate Fighter show and put on a show for the fans.”
Who do you think Ferguson should step into the Octagon next, has he done enough to earn a shot at the coveted UFC lightweight strap?
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