“You guys don’t speak up because you guys are getting paid by Conor [McGregor]. You guys are getting paid by Proper Twelve and all that other bullshit.”
UFC veteran Tony Ferguson went off on the media ahead of UFC 256, claiming that reporters are paid by Conor McGregor and aren’t doing enough to speak up for him in public.
Ferguson, who will take on lightweight contender Charles Oliveira in the UFC 256 co-main event, feels he deserves more positive attention and that the media should be campaigning for his next title shot despite ‘El Cucuy’ losing to Justin Gaethje at UFC 249.
“Where’s my title shot? Where’s all my stuff that’s supposed to be ‘owed’ to me? Nothing’s owed to you. You got to earn it,” Ferguson told TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter ahead of UFC 256 (h/t The Body Lock’s Abhinav Kini). “And I keep my earning my way to victory every single time. But nobody speaks up. You guys don’t speak up because you guys are getting paid by Conor [McGregor]. You guys are getting paid by Proper Twelve and all that other bullshit.
“You guys got that fucking facade over your face. You guys don’t want to speak up for me and be like, ‘yo, give Tony the fucking title shot.’ You guys got umpteen amount of time to talk to Dana [White] but you guys aren’t speaking up for me. You guys are watching me get fucked over left and right by my old management companies. Nobody’s saying shit right but yet here I am saving the fucking day [at UFC 249] and making sure everyone’s got entertainment in the world and then taking heat afterwards saying, ‘why didn’t you win?’”
Ferguson later clarified that the press shouldn’t necessarily be promoting him but rather stop giving McGregor so much attention.
“I would just say stop kissing so much ass,” he said. “Saying Conor’s name. I’m going to be real — the guy hasn’t competed in how long? You’re saying there’s not a household name [in these cards] because the name that’s in your guys’ mouth [is Conor]. You guys aren’t putting the other names out there. You’re not giving a chance for these other athletes like myself or Charles Oliveira. You guys are putting in people like [Michael] Chandler who did what for the UFC? Now he’s got a top three position. Get the fuck out of here.
“That’s on you guys to speak up. Because while I was getting fucked around by my previous management, Dana even said the same thing — why the fuck did nobody speak up? Speak up before it’s too late for y’all. So I can’t tell you exactly what the fuck to say because that’s on you guys and pardon my language. But at least speak what’s in your heart and not what you’re being told. Everybody’s too afraid of doing that.”
UFC 256: Figueiredo vs. Moreno will take place this Saturday, Dec. 12 at the UFC Apex Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.