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Tony Ferguson claims he’s ‘Not even close to being done’ amid calls for him to retire after UFC 296 fight

Tony Ferguson not even close to being done with MMA calls for retirement after UFC 296 Former interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson has claimed he’s “not even close to be being done” with mixed martial arts, amid calls for the Oxnard veteran to consider retiring from active competition in the wake of a worrying six-fight losing skid. Ferguson, a former interim lightweight titleholder under the promotion’s banner, is slated to make […]

Former interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson has claimed he’s “not even close to be being done” with mixed martial arts, amid calls for the Oxnard veteran to consider retiring from active competition in the wake of a worrying six-fight losing skid.

Ferguson, a former interim lightweight titleholder under the promotion’s banner, is slated to make his second Octagon walk of the year at UFC 296 in December, taking on the polarizing contender, Paddy Pimblett in a main card clash.

Last time out, Ferguson slumped to 0-6 in as many fights since 2020, dropping a third round arm-triangle submission loss to Bobby Green in a one-sided defeat at UFC 291 in July in Salt Lake City.

Tony Ferguson once again shuts down calls for him to retire from MMA

And despite calls for The Ultimate Fighter victor to consider calling time on his career should he lose – or even emerge with a victory against Pimblett, Ferguson insists he once more has no plans to hang up his storied gloves.

“I have nothing against the kid,” Tony Ferguson told ESPN. “Patrick (Pimblett) seems like a pretty legit dude. He gets pretty big, his standup is okay, but his ground game is a lot better. I love fighting internationals, it’s cool, I love it.”

“I have sh*t to do,” Tony Ferguson explained. “I’ve been competing for 35 years. I’m not even close to being done. What it’s going to take is a great team that got me to my championship belt, my interim belt. I had a great team. But holding on to certain things car sometimes be very detrimental to yourself, which sometimes you just got to let go and hold onto the things that hold onto you very tight. And that goes faith, family, and friends.”

Can Tony Ferguson snap his six-fight losing run at UFC 296?

Tony Ferguson reveals Khabib Nurmagomedov’s UFC retirement affected him: ‘A little part of me left’

Failing to ever share the Octagon with former undisputed lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov during their respective UFC tenures, former interim titleholder, Tony Ferguson has candidly revealed a part of him “left” when the Russian retired from mixed martial arts back in 2020. Forever on a collision-course, Nurmagomedov and Ferguson failed to ever fight each other […]

Forever on a collision-course, Nurmagomedov and Ferguson failed to ever fight each other under the banner of the UFC, with freak injuries, weight-cut mishaps, and even a global pandemic seeing at least five officially penned pairings between the lightweight veteran scrapped ahead of mouth-watering matchups.

Retiring from mixed martial arts competition back in 2020, Nurmagomedov most recently landed a title unification win over former interim champion and common-foe, Justin Gaethje, submitting the symbolic BMF championship holder with a second round triangle choke.

As for Ferguson, the Oxnard veteran, who once shared a record-setting 12-fight winning run with American Kickboxing Academy staple, Nurmagomedov during his pomp, will attempt to snap a hugely disappointing six-fight losing skid at UFC 296 in December as he takes on Paddy Pimblett.

Tony Ferguson admits Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement affecting his career

And receiving encouragement to call time on his career with a loss to Liverpool contender, Pimblett in December, Ferguson has revealed that when Nurmagomedov called time on his undefeated career, a part of him “left” in tow.

“I know when Khabib (Nurmagomedov) left [MMA], a little part of me left with that,” Tony Ferguson told MMA Fighting during a recent interview. “It kind of sucked a little bit because we’ve always have that, I don’t know – negative energy. But that hype that was built around that. And then when that disappeared and the pandemic hit and f*cking team left and then a whole bunch.”

In his most recent Octagon walk, Ferguson dropped a third round arm-triangle submission loss to Bobby Green at UFC 291 in July, suffering his sixth straight loss.

Can Tony Ferguson snap his losing skid at UFC 296 in December

Shavkat Rakhmonov opens as decent betting favorite to defeat Stephen Thompson in their UFC 296 fight

Boasting arguably on the most impressive and most definitely exciting winning runs in the UFC today, Uzbekistan native, Shavkat Rakhmonov is hotly-tipped to continue in his rich-vein of winning form against former two-time welterweight title chaser, Stephen Thompson in their December clash at UFC 296. Rakhmonov, who currently sports the number six rank in the […]

Rakhmonov, who currently sports the number six rank in the official welterweight pile, turned in his whopping seventeenth professional victory – and seventeenth finish to boot back in March at UFC 285, submitting common-foe, Geoff Neal with a third round standing rear-naked choke win.

As for Thompson, the fan-favorite striking veteran will be sidelined for a year come his December fight with Shavkat Rakhmonov, most recently forcing a fourth round corner’s stoppage TKO win over recent Noche UFC feature, Kevin Holland at UFC Orlando in the pair’s headliner last December.

Shavkat Rakhmonov opens as betting favorite to beat Stephen Thompson at UFC 296

And amid the rise of Rakhmonov and his veteran status, number seven rated challenger, Thompson is currently riding a +320 betting underdog line against the former – who has opened as an impressive -410 betting favorite to dispatch Thompson at UFC 296.

Fans and punters alike can find a host of UFC betting sites to wager on outright winners of clashes as well as prop bets, ahead of what promises to be a blockbuster end-of-year schedule for the North American-based organization.

Making big noise since his arrival in the UFC, former M-1 Global welterweight kingpin, Rakhmonov made his Octagon bow against Alex Oliveira – stopping the Brazilian veteran with a first round guillotine choke submission win.

In consecutive victories and finishes since then, the 28-year-old has dispatched names like Neil Magny, and the above-mentioned, Neal – both with submission stoppages, which have gone a long way in earning the finishing starlet the moniker as a future welterweight champion under the promotion’s scrutiny.

Failing in two efforts to dislodge Tyron Woodley as welterweight champion in 2015, and 2016, respectively, Thompson will seek out one final championship push beginning with is end-of-year fight with Shavkat Rakhmonov – snapping a run of losses against both Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad with his TKO win over Holland.

Sidelined for some time, Simponsville veteran, Thompson also divulged recently that we may have seen a fight between himself and Shavkat Rakhmonov two years ago, until he candidly rejected a bout agreement from the UFC.

“It was a year and a half ao, maybe, I think, the UFC wanted me to fight Shavkat (Rakhmonov), and to be honest with you, I didn’t know who he was at the time,” Stephen Thompson said. “I think he’s only had, like, five fights in the UFC. Obviously, I turned it down, I didn’t know who the guy was. And then after that I tuned in and I saw him fight Neil Magny, saw him fight Geoff Neal, and I’m like, ‘Bro, this dude’s legit,’ and now he’s ranked above me.”

“So anybody’s that’s ranked above me, I told the UFC I’m down for,” Stephen Thompson explained. “This is the guy I think could possibly be welterweight champ at some point. He’s that good, undefeated, I think he has a 100 percent finish rate, so what better guy to go out there and show the world and the UFC that I deserve a title shot by fighting this guy.”

Can Shavkat Rakhmonov beat Stephen Thompson in December?

Tony Ferguson opens as massive betting underdog to beat Paddy Pimblett in December fight at UFC 296

Welcoming polarizing lightweight contender, Paddy Pimblett back from his extended lay-off at the end of the year, former interim champion, Tony Ferguson has opened as a sizeable betting underdog to snap his six-fight losing skid at UFC 296. Ferguson, a former interim lightweight champion under the promotion’s banner, is slated to feature at UFC 296 […]

Ferguson, a former interim lightweight champion under the promotion’s banner, is slated to feature at UFC 296 in December against former Cage Warriors featherweight champion, Pimblett, as he makes his second Octagon walk of the year.

Back in July, fan-favorite veteran, Tony Ferguson slumped to his staggering sixth consecutive loss, giving up a late third round arm-triangle submission loss to fellow veteran, Bobby Green.

As for Pimblett, the outspoken Huyton native has been sidelined through an ankle injury since December of last year, most recently keeping his promotional-perfect record in tact in a hugely controversial and dubious decision win over Jared Gordon.

Paddy Pimblett heavy betting favorite to beat Tony Ferguson at UFC 296

And forced to land a victory for the first time since a 2019 doctor’s stoppage TKO win over Donald Cerrone in his UFC 296 return, Ferguson has opened as a large +280 betting underdog to defeat Pimblett – who himself is currently riding a -340 betting line as favorite.

A host of online casinos and bookies, as well as markers are offering odds on UFC events throughout the remainder of the year, including Ferguson’s return at UFC 296 against Liverpool contender, Pimblett.

Firmly riding the most devastating and longest losing skid of his professional career to date, Tony Ferguson, who was once tied for the longest winning streak up until a 2020 loss to Justin Gaethje, once rode an impeccable run of 12 consecutive victories – including an interim title victory.

However, amid his continued losing run, which was recently capped off by a second straight late submission loss against the above-mentioned, Green in the summer, Tony Ferguson has been touted as likely to call time on his career with a loss to Pimblett, as per UFC boss, Dana White.

“I think a lot of people think that Paddy (Pimblett) is unproven, and I think a lot of people feel that Tony (Ferguson) isn’t in deep water like he’s been in, in his last several fights,” White told assembled media after the Contender Series. “I think the matchmaking and the timing on this fight is excellent and couldn’t be more perfect.”

“If you look at Tony’s last few fights that he’s fought, he looked damn good before the (Michael) chandler finish, and every fight that’s fought on the last two, three fights,” White explained. “He looked damn good right until the end. So, it’s fun, interesting fight with two fun and interesting characters.”

“I would let Tony make that decision, but I’m sure if he loses to Paddy, he would probably look at calling it,” White explained. “He’s had a great career. Done a lot of things, had a lot of big fights. That would probably be a wrap for him. Hopefully.”

In the midst of a four-fight winning run since his Octagon landing, Next Generation MMA & BJJ staple, Pimblett managed to emerge with his winning run alive after his dubious judging win over Gordon, following prior victories over Jordan Leavitt, Kazula Vargas, and Luigi Vendramini during his brief tenure.

Can Tony Ferguson beat Paddy Pimblett at UFC 296 in December?

Stephen Thompson admits he previously rejected fight with UFC star Shavkat Rakhmonov: ‘I didn’t know who he was’

Former two-time welterweight title challenger, Stephen Thompson is slated to make his Octagon return in December at UFC 296 against the undefeated finishing ace, Shavkat Rakhmonov, however, revealed recently that the pairing may have materialized earlier – if he had not rejected a fight offer. Thompson, a former two-time welterweight championship challenger under the banner […]

Thompson, a former two-time welterweight championship challenger under the banner of the UFC, currently holds the number seven rank in the division, having been sidelined since he landed a fourth round corner’s stoppage TKO win over Kevin Holland in the main event of UFC Fight Night Orlando last December.

Slated to return at UFC 291 back in July, Thompson confirmed he turned down a catchweight fight with Michel Pereira, after the Brazilian missed weight for their planned main card fight.

Sidelined since, the Simpsonville native has now been booked to fight the number six rated, Rakhmonov in December at UFC 296, in a barnburning potential welterweight title eliminator.

Stephen Thompson admits turning down fight with Shavkat Rakhmonov

However, admitting we could have seen a clash between himself and the Uzbekistan native earlier that December, Thompson claimed he rejected a prior fight offer from the UFC to challenger Rakhmonov – due to a lack of perceived name value.

“It was a year and a half ao, maybe, I think, the UFC wanted me to fight Shavkat (Rakhmonov), and to be honest with you, I didn’t know who he was at the time,” Stephen Thompson told MMA Fighting. “I think he’s only had, like, five fights in the UFC. Obviously, I turned it down, I didn’t know who the guy was. And then after that I tuned in and I saw him fight Neil Magny, saw him fight Geoff Neal, and I’m like, ‘Bro, this dude’s legit,’ and now he’s ranked above me.”

Who wins between Stephen Thompson and Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 296?

Tony Ferguson backed to have ‘One more night’ and snap losing run in UFC 296 fight with Paddy Pimblett

Former interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson has been touted to potentially have “one more night” of success in him at UFC 296 in December, as he attempts to snap a six-fight losing run against Paddy Pimblett. Ferguson, a former interim lightweight champion under the banner of the Dana White-led organization, is slated to make his […]

Ferguson, a former interim lightweight champion under the banner of the Dana White-led organization, is slated to make his return at UFC 296 at the end of the year, taking on the returning lightweight contender, Pimblett.

Sidelined since July of this year, Ferguson suffered his sixth consecutive defeat, in the form of an eventual third round arm-triangle submission loss to veteran UFC Vegas 80 headliner, Bobby Green next month.

As for Pimblett, the Liverpool native and former undisputed featherweight Cage Warriors titleholder, has yet to feature since landing a hugely controversial unanimous decision win over Jared Gordon in December of last year.

And defending the matchmaking between Ferguson and Pimblett earlier this week, UFC CEO, Dana White claimed that while the former interim champion should consider calling time on his career with a loss at UFC 296, he believes he’s improved in recent losses.

Daniel Cormier claims Tony Ferguson can snap his losing skid at UFC 296

According to former two-weight UFC champion and Hall of Fame inductee, Daniel Cormier, Ferguson could pull a rabbit from the proverbial hat and snap his losing run to Pimblett in December.

“Is it as simple as he just needs one?” Daniel Cormier asked on his YouTube channel. “Because imagine what happens if Tony Ferguson beats Paddy Pimblett. He said before the last fight, I sat with him in the fighter meeting and Tony Ferguson said, ‘It’s going to be a fight right now, five more fights, I’m on the title.’ So, it’s not like he has lost that desire to fight. He has not lost the thought that he can be a world champion.

“I’m gonna tell you this right now, and this is the saying as old as time, fellas. Every great champion has one more night in him. We saw it with George Foreman when he beat Michael Moorer. He did not belong in the ring with Michael Moorer. We have seen so many great fighters have one great night, where if you close your eyes and you squint enough, they remind you of that person that was on that run.” (Transcribed by MMA Fighting)

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