(“Yeah…I’m gonna call you ‘Jessie’. Do you like that name? Shhh, daddy’s got you.” / Photo via UFC.com)
After knocking our four straight opponents to claim his Ultimate Fighter 13 trophy, then shattering Aaron Riley’s jaw last month in his first post-TUF Octagon appearance, Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson is getting another step up this December. The UFC has confirmed that Ferguson (12-2, 2-0 UFC) will be facing 14-year MMA veteran Yves Edwards (41-17-1, 9-5 UFC) at the TUF 14 Finale, December 3rd in Las Vegas.
It goes without saying that Edwards’s biggest advantage in the matchup is experience. The “Thugjitsu Master” has more than four times as many pro fights as Ferguson, and has a resume that includes wins over big names like Josh Thomson, Rich Clementi, and Hermes Franca. Edwards most recently TKO’d Rafaello Oliveira at UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson, which helped him rebound from an ugly knockout loss against Sam Stout.
Though it’s definitely a step up for Ferguson, don’t forget that El Cucuy is a nasty S.o.B. with serious power in his hands. Will he make the official transition from reality-show prospect to legit lightweight contender in his next outing?
The TUF 14 Finale will be headlined by the coaches’ battle between middleweight stars Michael Bisping and Jason Miller. No other matchups have been announced for the card yet, although the event will crown the first featherweight and bantamweight Ultimate Fighter winners in UFC history.