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Tony Ferguson laments failed fight with UFC rival Conor McGregor: ‘That kid would never sign on the dotted line’

Former interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson has claimed despite multiple efforts to land a fight with former stablemate and…

Former interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson has claimed despite multiple efforts to land a fight with former stablemate and two-division UFC champion, Conor McGregor – the Dubliner never elected to actually put pen to paper on a deal to clash.

Ferguson, a former interim lightweight titleholder, has been sidelined since he suffered his record-tying seventh consecutive loss at UFC 296 back in December, dropping a unanimous decision defeat to Liverpool contender, Paddy Pimblett over the course of three rounds.

As for McGregor, the former undisputed lightweight and featherweight champion, is expected to make his return to the Octagon this summer, most recently fracturing his left tibia and fibula in an opening round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss to Dustin Poirier back in 2021.

And forever on an apparent collision course, particularly following McGregor title success at 155 pounds back in 2016 – Ferguson failed to ever secure a fight with the Dubliner, who then shared the same management firm with the ex-champion, under the banner of Paradigm Sports.

Tony Ferguson discusses failed Conor McGregor fight

Sharing his thoughts on a failed showdown with McGregor, Ferguson, who held the interim lightweight crown back in 2017 when the Crumlin striker still also held lightweight spoils, claimed the 35-year-old never signed a contract to fight him.

“No dice,” Tony Ferguson said of a fight with Conor McGregor when replying to a user on his official X account. “That kid would never sign on the dotted line – champ.”

Expected to make his comeback potentially as soon as the end of June during International Fight Week, McGregor revealed before the turn of the year how he would be fighting former lightweight title chaser, Michael Chandler – in a shocking middleweight limit debut for both.

Who would have won in a fight between Tony Ferguson or Conor McGregor?

Tony Ferguson tore his MCL ahead of UFC 296 loss to Paddy Pimblett, undergoes surgery: ‘No despair, just repair’

Tony Ferguson blew out his MCL ahead of a UFC 296 return against Paddy Pimblett in December. El Cucuy‘…

Tony Ferguson blew out his MCL ahead of a UFC 296 return against Paddy Pimblett in December.

El Cucuy‘ is currently tied with Octagon legend BJ Penn for the longest losing streak in UFC history after suffering his seventh-straight loss at the promotion’s final pay-per-view of 2023. Determined to get back into the win column against the fast-rising Liverpudlian, Ferguson instead succumbed to a unanimous decision defeat following another lackluster performance.

And while Ferguson makes no excuses for once again coming up short, the former interim titleholder revealed on Instagram that he recently underwent surgery to repair a torn MCL that he sustained before his fight with Pimblett.

“Two weeks before Thanksgiving I f*cked my sh*t up during a practice sesh, MCL tear,” Ferguson wrote. “I kept it to myself and put it behind me ‘til after the fight. I trained like no one knew, sh*t hurt so good. Three weeks before fight time told a few of my crew. Nothing changed.

“I recently took care of my leg (my MCL) and had surgery last Thursday, one week after my elbow/arm surgery (both arthroscopic). Thought I would get them both done and double-down. Got it over with so I can do what I do best. Beyond rage is an understatement. I feel no despair, just repair.”

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Tony Ferguson has no intention of retiring

Ferguson, who is just a few weeks shy of turning 40, has been urged by practically everyone, including UFC CEO Dana White, to hang up his gloves. ‘El Cucuy’ has refused to do so, suggesting that he is “just barely hitting” his prime.

Despite his string of losses, Tony Ferguson is a future first-ballot UFC Hall of Famer, having at one time amassed a 12-fight win streak in one of the promotion’s most loaded divisions. He holds victories over notables, including Anthony Pettis, Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone, Rafael dos Anjos, Edson Barboza, and Josh Thomson.

Tony Ferguson undergoes elbow surgery in hope of prolonging UFC career despite calls for retirement: ‘Wolverine recovery’

Tony Ferguson undergoes another surgery, this time on his elbow, in hopes of continuing. MMA career. Ferguson is now…

Tony Ferguson undergoes another surgery, this time on his elbow, in hopes of continuing. MMA career.

Ferguson is now on a seven-fight losing streak after losing to Paddy Pimblett as recently as December in the pair’s main card clash at UFC 296.

At UFC 296 last month. A once feared and elite lightweight, Ferguson is a shell of his former self and now at 39 years old a turnaround seems unlikely.

However, Ferguson is steadfast in continuing to career despite many calling for him to hang up the gloves.

“Arthros CopyThat -CSO- UpGrade Thanks Dr. ️Mora — Champ,” Ferguson wrote on X, “Be’GonBone Fragments Morning 3 Hour Sesh’ In The Boox! Wolverine Recovery TwoWeeks.”

Tony Ferguson faces another setback after injury

Posting to his Instagram, Ferguson would reveal that he had recently undergone surgery on his elbow to remove bone fragments.

“Love My Fans & Supporters, You All Are Fuckin’ Fire Met Lots Of You Saturday/ This Weekend / This Week Keep The Faith MF’s. One Foot In Front Of The Other B*tches. Remember What I Said Crew” – Champ -CSO- # ThereIsNoSuccessWithoutStruggle # Not RetiringCasuals # EatAFat OneYa’BunchOfEunics

Injuries plagued Ferguson’s career and forced him to miss out on several big fights including a undisputed title fight clash against Khabib Nurmagomedov. While Ferguson became UFC interim lightweight champion, a shot at undisputed gold has eluded him.

Dana White wants Tony Ferguson to retire following UFC 296pic.twitter.com/xyt2o2NiwS

— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) December 17, 2023

During his prime ‘El Cucuy’ was a nightmare to deal with – toughness, cardio, a good jiu-jitsu game and unusual striking style led him to a blood-filled 12-fight win streak which saw him claim victories over the likes of Rafael dos Anjos, Anthony Pettis and Edson Barboza.

Whatever he decided to do next, Ferguson will forever be a beloved fighter who gave fans many memorable moments and will go down as a legend.

What is your favourite Tony Ferguson moment?

Tony Ferguson boasted as future UFC Hall of Fame inductee: ‘We got to get him in on the merit of that winning streak’

Former interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson has been backed as a future inductee into the UFC’s Hall of Fame…

Former interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson has been backed as a future inductee into the UFC’s Hall of Fame by current play-by-play lead, Jon Anik, who points to the Oxnard veteran’s once record-setting 12-fight winning streak as meriting him an induction into the ‘Fighter Wing’.

Ferguson, a former interim lightweight champion and victor of The Ultimate Fighter during his UFC tenure, slumped to his record-setting seventh consecutive loss at UFC 296 back in December – following a one-sided unanimous decision loss to Paddy Pimblett.

Joining former two-weight champion, B.J. Penn in the midst of the longest consecutive losing run in the UFC with his seventh straight loss last month, Ferguson once held a record-setting run of 12 consecutive victories – including an interim title fight victory, as part of a stunning run between 2013 until 2019.

And despite his losing run, in which Ferguson has been urged by the likes of UFC CEO, Dana White, as well as Hall of Fame inductee, color-commentator, Daniel Cormier to call time on his fighting career, the Oxnard veteran insists he has no plans to hang up his gloves from combat sports.

Tony Ferguson backed to land UFC Hall of Fame induction

Going to bat for former interim titleholder, Ferguson, play-by-play lead, Anik claims he would like to see the former land in the ‘FIghter Wing’ of the promotion’s Hall of Fame when it’s all said and done – based on his 12-fight winning spree.

“I will fight like hell for Tony Ferguson to get in [to the UFC Hall of Fame],” Jon Anik told MMA Junkie Radio. “I think sometimes the interim champions can become interesting cases. But maybe I won’t have to fight for Tony. But if there needs to be a fight for Tony Ferguson to get into the UFC Hall of Fame as a modern-era fighter on the merits of his individual accomplishments and not a singular fight like he has against Lando Vannata or Edson Barzboa, we’ve got to get Ferguson in on the merits of that 12-fight lightweight winning streak.”

Would you back Tony Ferguson to make an entry to the UFC’s Hall of Fame?

Tony Ferguson again urged to end UFC run by veteran star: ‘He’s 0-7, you need to be done, buddy’

Former interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson has once again been urged to call time on his storied mixed martial…

Former interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson has once again been urged to call time on his storied mixed martial arts career, this time by UFC alum, Ben Askren – who pointed out an apparent lack of ability from Paddy Pimblett, whom the former lost to at UFC 296 last weekend.

Ferguson, a former interim lightweight champion and Ultimate Fighter victor under the banner of the Dana White-led promotion, returned to the Octagon at UFC 296 earlier this month, suffering a one-sided unanimous decision to the returning, Pimblett, in what came as the former’s seventh consecutive defeat.

Without a victory since a second round doctor’s stoppage TKO win over Donald Cerrone back in 2019, Ferguson, who once held a division-best 12-fight unbeaten winning streak, now joins former two-weight champion, B.J. Penn on a record-setting seven-fight losing skid off the back of last weekend’s judging loss.

Tony Ferguson urged to retire by Ben Askren

And urged by both UFC CEO, White, and former two-division champion, Daniel Cormier to call time on his fighting career, Ferguson – who knocked back encouragement to stop fighting, has now been urged to do so by former ONE Championship and Bellator MMA gold holder, Askren.

“He (Tony Ferguson) says he wants to keep fighting,” Ben Askren told Middleeasy. “SoIs it a monetary thing where he needs to keep fighting for money? I don’t know, but Paddy (Pimblett) does not seem to be that good. He really doesn’t and Tony, he just couldn’t get off his back. I don’t know what his plan was. He is a wrestler. He grew up wrestling.”

“His trajectory is so insane,” Askren continued. “He was like, 13-0, or whatever the hell he was afor a while, and now he’s 0-7. It’s like, yeah, you need to be done, buddy.”

Do you think Tony Ferguson will finally call time on his UFC career?

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Coach Comments on Tony Ferguson’s losing streak and his post-UFC Potential

Javier Mendez, the legendary coach of UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, believes there are plenty of options for…

Javier Mendez, the legendary coach of UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, believes there are plenty of options for Tony Ferguson outside of the Octagon.

‘El Cucuy’ suffered his seventh-straight loss under the UFC banner at the promotion’s final pay-per-view of the year, dropping a unanimous decision to rising UK-based contender Paddy Pimblett. Now tied with BJ Penn for the most consecutive losses in UFC history, many fight fans expected Tony Ferguson to lay down his gloves following the defeat. However, the moment never came.

Instead, Ferguson stormed out of the Octagon as soon as the decision was announced and then proceeded to suggest that his career was still far from over.

Speaking about Ferguson’s career trajectory, Mendez believes that there are a lot of lucrative options outside of the UFC, should ‘El Cucuy’ move on from his time with the Las Vegas-based promotion. But whether or not he retires is for nobody, but him to decide.

“Well, number one, the UFC releasing him at this stage might benefit them,” Mendez said on his podcast. “Before it didn’t because he was still a needle-mover. He’s really good for advertising, hyping fights up. Tony’s still good at that. So, the fact that there’s bare-knuckle fighting, the fact that there’s other organizations out there it means that Tony still has a job if he wants to, a high-paying job ’cause people pay to watch him.

“So, I think he probably needs to really look at himself now because that’s seven in a row, and he keeps changing things up. Father time’s catching him up more. It’s gonna be up to him and his family, but I don’t want to say he should retire. That’s on him” (h/t MMAKnockout.com).

Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov were scheduled to scrap for the lightweight world title on no less than five separate occasions. Each time, the bout fell through for one reason or another. The last attempt came in April 2020, but the bout was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A month later, ‘El Cucuy’ would go on to fight Justin Gaethje in the first of his seven straight defeats.