Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson, is a good husband and a good father to his son, according to his wife Cristina, but he needs help after exhibiting unusual and somewhat unsettling behavior.
“El Cucuy” was hit with a temporary restraining order on Wednesday in Orange County Superior Court, with an investigation scheduled for March 22, followed by a domestic violence hearing on April 5.
”Tony Ferguson is a good husband and good father to our son,” Cristina wrote in a statement to ESPN. “The current legal proceedings are a part of a process to ensure that Tony will receive the help necessary to continue being the best possible, as well as to pursue his passion and career as a UFC champion fighter. All positive well wishes are sincerely appreciated and I hope our privacy will be respected.”
Ferguson (24-3) is widely-considered one of the world’s top lightweight fighters, having captured 11 straight fights with eight violent finishes. The promotion attempted to book “El Cucuy” for a second interim title fight at UFC 236, but “personal issues” gave him pause.
It’s important to note that Ferguson, 35, is presumed innocent and Wednesday’s order of protection is considered temporary until a hearing can determine otherwise.