Ferguson admits he was ‘sandbagging’ his ‘last four fights’

Tony Ferguson during his UFC 279 headliner with Nate Diaz. | Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

“I don’t see any Ls. I just see growth.” After a six-year dominant run and an interim title to boot, Tony Ferguson now finds h…


Tony Ferguson during his UFC 279 headliner with Nate Diaz.
Tony Ferguson during his UFC 279 headliner with Nate Diaz. | Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

“I don’t see any Ls. I just see growth.”

After a six-year dominant run and an interim title to boot, Tony Ferguson now finds himself in a rough patch. “El Cucuy” is currently on a five-fight skid, with his most recent loss happening over the weekend at UFC 279 against fellow OG Nate Diaz.

Any fighter would see this string of defeats as a major career setback. Ferguson however, sees the upside.

“When it comes down to an L, it has to go in, like, what’s been put on the table,” he told the media during the post-fight scrum. “Putting sports back on in the world (UFC 249), setting an example for these youngsters to not quit. To go in there and not f—ng give a shit, take the next fight…

“I’mma be real, I don’t see any Ls. I just see growth.”

Ferguson’s four losses ahead of the Diaz bout were against formidable opponents like Justin Gaethje, former champion Charles Oliveira, Beneil Dariush, and Michael Chandler. But according to him, he was “sandbagging” in all four bouts.

“The last four fights that I had before this one, I’mma be real, I was sandbagging. I really wasn’t doing anything. My wife called me out.

“I found a good team, I found the most f—ng motley crew of people that we could’ve put together. We made f—ng noise. It was fun as shit, from Wild Card Boxing to over in Albuquerque at Jackson-Wink, to Black House…

“This has been a trip, man. I’m still f—ng glad to be here. I hope you guys are amused by that shit.”

After UFC 279, the 38-year-old Ferguson dropped to a record of 25-8.