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

Tony Ferguson undergoes surgery on elbow vows Wolverine recovery amid calls for UFC career retireTony Ferguson undergoes another surgery, this time on his elbow, in hopes of continuing. MMA career. Ferguson is now…

Tony Ferguson undergoes surgery on elbow vows Wolverine recovery amid calls for UFC career retire

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. 

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’

Tony Ferguson backed to receive UFC Hall of Fame induction on the merit of that winning streakFormer interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson has been backed as a future inductee into the UFC’s Hall of Fame…

Tony Ferguson backed to receive UFC Hall of Fame induction 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 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’

Tony Ferguson urged to retire from the UFC he's 0-7 it's time to be done buddy Ben AskrenFormer interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson has once again been urged to call time on his storied mixed martial…

Tony Ferguson urged to retire from the UFC he's 0-7 it's time to be done buddy Ben Askren

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

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

Tony Ferguson

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.

Daniel Cormier urges Tony Ferguson to retire from MMA after UFC 296 loss: ‘That time has come’

Tony Ferguson urged to retire by Daniel Cormier the time has come UFCUFC Hall of Fame inductee, Daniel Cormier has encouraged former interim lightweight titleholder, Tony Ferguson to seriously consider calling…

Tony Ferguson urged to retire by Daniel Cormier the time has come UFC

UFC Hall of Fame inductee, Daniel Cormier has encouraged former interim lightweight titleholder, Tony Ferguson to seriously consider calling time on his storied mixed martial arts career, after the Oxnard native dropped his seventh consecutive loss at UFC 296 last weekend.

Ferguson, a former interim lightweight champion under the banner of the UFC, featured on the main card of the promotion’s final flagship event of the year last weekend, dropping a one-sided unanimous decision loss to Paddy Pimblett.

The defeat came as Ferguson’s seventh consecutively – as The Ultimate Fighter victor joined former two-weight champion, B.J. Penn on the longest concurrent losing streak in the history of the organization.

Urged by UFC CEO, Dana White to call time on his mixed martial arts career and hang up his gloves following his judging loss to Liverpool up-and-comer, Pimblett, Ferguson claimed, however, that he had no intention of ending his time in the sport.

Tony Ferguson urged to retire by Daniel Cormier

Adding his thoughts to Ferguson’s situation, former undisputed light heavyweight and heavyweight gold holder, Cormier claimed the time has now firmly arrived for the former to stop fighting professionally.

“Tony Ferguson would seem to be done,” Daniel Cormier said on an episode of DC & RC. “Call it what it is. I believe that Tony Ferguson should retire. I really try to limit trying to show a man the door because nobody knows when someone’s done until they know that they’re done.”

“Only Tony knows when it’s time,” Cormier explained. “But it seems as though he’s the only one left that isn’t sure. Everybody else feels pretty certain that that time has come for Tony Ferguson.” 

Earlier this year, Oxnard veteran, Ferguson dropped a one-sided eventual third round arm-triangle submission loss to Bobby Green on the main card of UFC 291 back in July. 

Do you think Tony Ferguson will retire after UFC 296?

UFC icon critiques Tony Ferguson’s recent downfall, losing skid: ‘He’s not sparring, he missing his opponent’

Tony Ferguson doesn't spar and is missing his opponents after UFC 296 loss UFC star Chael SonnenOff the back of his seventh consecutive loss at UFC 296 over the course of last weekend, former interim…

Tony Ferguson doesn't spar and is missing his opponents after UFC 296 loss UFC star Chael Sonnen

Off the back of his seventh consecutive loss at UFC 296 over the course of last weekend, former interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson’s recent downfall in the Octagon may be a direct result of a lack of sparring – according to former title challenger, Chael Sonnen.

Ferguson, a former interim lightweight champion and perennial division contender, featured on the main card of UFC 296 over the course of last weekend in his second appearance of the year, dropping a one-sided unanimous decision loss to Paddy Pimblett.

Tying former two-weight UFC champion, B.J. Penn for the longest concurrent losing skid in the Octagon with his seventh consecutive blemish, Ferguson insisted, however, despite encouragement from Dana White, that he would not consider retiring from mixed martial arts competition. 

“Love my fans & supporters you all are f*ckin’ fire,” Tony Ferguson posted on his official Instagram. “Met lots of you tonight, keep the faith MF’s. One foot in front of the other b*tches, remember what I said crew – champ.”

Tony Ferguson brushes off calls for retirement 

Insisting he would not be retiring from combat sports – Oxnard veteran, Ferguson claimed those who called for him to do so were just “casuals”, however, a lack of sparring and live-action preparation with other fighters for his bouts, could be the reason for his losing run, according to ex-UFC title challenger, Sonnen.

“Tony Ferguson is the same age as (Stephen) ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson,” Chael Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “Now, when you have a fresh memory in your mind because you just saw them both fight, did they look anything similar?”

“The reason it looked the way that it looked, the reason he (Tony Ferguson) was having a hard time with range, he’s missing his opponent, the reason: he doesn’t spar,” Sonnen explained. (H/T MMA on Point)

Do you agree with Chael Sonnen’s take on Tony Ferguson’s skid?