Top-ranked lightweight contender Tony Ferguson plans to make dos Anjos quit at UFC Mexico this Saturday.
Tony Ferguson isn’t one to mince words. When asked to rate upcoming opponent Rafael dos Anjos, ‘El Cucuy’ called the Brazilian a quitter.
“I see quit,” Ferguson told MMA Junkie ahead of his lightweight showdown with dos Anjos at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale.
Dos Anjos had looked unstoppable since acquiring the 155-pound belt last year, thoroughly dominating then-champion Anthony Pettis and starching Donald Cerrone in his first title defense at UFC on FOX 17.
At UFC Fight Night 90, however, the hype train came to a screeching halt. Dos Anjos was overwhelmed and TKO’d by underdog Eddie Alvarez in the first round, losing the championship in his second title defense.
Ferguson, who has studied tape on his opponent, says it’s not the first time dos Anjos has wilted under pressure.
“I’ve seen him quit in his video,” Ferguson continued. “I’ve seen when he fought a couple of people, and I saw him go in the corner frustrated – and I do that to every fighter I fight. (Edson) Barboza, (Josh) Thomson, those are the two best fights that I’ve ever had because they gave me what I wanted, which was a fight.”
Ferguson is currently on an 8-fight win streak, beating the likes of Gleison Tibau, Josh Thomson and Edson Barboza to cement himself as one of the top contenders in the division. In his last fight, the Ultimate Fighter 13 winner entertained fans in a back-and-forth brawl with UFC newcomer Lando Vannata in July. After some trouble in the first round, Ferguson eventually found his groove and submitted Vannata with a D’Arce choke in the second.
Ferguson expects dos Anjos to bring it and plans to finish the former champion after a bloody battle.
“He’s going to try and hit me with some knees and some other stuff,” Ferguson said. “I do hard body conditioning, baby. You hit me with everything that you’ve got, and you give me the fight that I want. You better bring that (expletive) ‘RDA.’
“I see it going down in a finish, whether knockout or submission. I’m going to aim for bloody.”
Dos Anjos vs. Ferguson will headline The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale on Nov. 5 at Arena Ciudad de Mexico in the high-altitude capital of Mexico City.