Tony Ferguson explains why he’s now training with Freddie Roach.
UFC veteran Tony Ferguson is now training with legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach.
Ferguson teamed up with Roach in February after realizing he needed to make some changes to his training regimen following back-to-back defeats to Justin Gaethje and Charles Oliveira in 2020.
Ferguson was left feeling dissatisfied with his cornermen and knew he needed to make some big changes going forward.
“Coach Armand Anthony” I Used To Not Get Hit,” Ferguson wrote on Instagram earlier this week. “Then I Changed Things Up A Bit. Had -2- Figure It Out After Getting Hit More And More Each Fight. Decided Not To Take Any more Unnecessary Damage Made The Mandatory Changes Promised My Faith/Family/Friends I Would Not Take Damage Like The Last Few Fights When A Corner Of Mine Wouldn’t Work On Simple Slip Drills I Knew I Had To Make Changes.”
“When A Cornerman Forgot Water During The Round Mid Fight I Knew I Had To Make Changes. When I Got Sick and Tired Of Being Sick and Tired, I Did Something About It, Quit Bitchin’ & Went To Work. Lots Of Cool Things Coming Up, Been Working Hard. Ferguson Seriously. Check It Out Crew If Looking At Someone’s IG Makes You Envious or Jealous (Instead Of Being Happy For Them), Stop Drop And Gimme Push-ups. It’s Better To Be Sore Than A Sore-Loser. Champ Shit Only Love you My Son Armand Anthony, My Best Friend. Thanks For Running Practice Fergalish w/ The Comida Assist, Thanks Mamacita.”
Quite a few fighters have written ‘El Cucuy’ off following his recent losses, but the former interim UFC lightweight champion has at least acknowledged that he needs to make changes. Although Roach works primarily with boxers, the 61-year-old has had success in training MMA fighters such as Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva and Andrei Arlovski in the past, all of whom won titles in the UFC.
Ferguson will return to the octagon to take on Beneil Dariush at UFC 262 on May 15 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.