Tony Ferguson retired in 2024. Well… he did somewhat.
After putting half a glove down indicating that he was kinda sorta retired, it didn’t take long for Ferguson to return to fighting. The former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion was on a massive 8-fight skid that started with Justin Gaethje at UFC 249.
Despite his losing streak, Ferguson will go down as one of the best lightweights of the modern generation, but his downfall came swift and seemingly out of the blue following dominant wins over Anthony Pettis and Donald Cerrone.
After negotiating his release from the UFC, Tony would make the jump over to the Global Fight League in January 2025. He was originally scheduled to fight Dillon Danis on May 25th at GFL 2. However, the new MMA company folded without a single show taking place. That didn’t phase Ferguson too much as he quickly ended up at Misfits Boxing. The UFC star is scheduled to fight Salt Papi for the interim middleweight title.
Ferguson talked to MMA Fighting and looked back on his record-setting losing streak in UFC.
“I’m fighting these guys, like a bunch of puds, they weren’t around for the longest f*cking time on my tear,” Ferguson told said. “Because they didn’t want to f*cking get bloody or have me wear their blood while I’m smiling and shit like that.
“When I was fighting these guys, it’s kind of like I was doing it for the fan base and to be like, yeah, I’m taking these opportunities, I’m not going to let them ice the kicker. I’m going to take these opportunities. I didn’t get cut from the UFC. We both [shook hands] and we both walked away.”
Ferguson was asked whether he was still interested in fighting in MMA and the former UFC star made it clear that an opportunity is always on the table.
“I don’t give a f*ck what anybody thinks about me,” Ferguson said. “‘[Is] Tony Ferguson in his prime?’ I don’t give a f*ck. The interest is there right now. It doesn’t matter who the f*ck is going to step in front of me. You could put anybody in front of me come that night. I’m going to go in there and give the best possible version of myself that I possibly can because I’m uncomfortable in practice right now. The last four to five years, I’ve been comfortable in practice. I’ve been miserable in the fight because I just didn’t want to f*cking do it. I’m uncomfortable in practice right now, getting rounds and making myself feel that way so that way when I get inside that ring, I’m going to be comfortable as f*ck.
“If it interests me, I’m going to go in there, and I’m going to do it. I’m that kind of guy that has that kind of talent to be able to pick it up because that’s the way my parents raised me. If I’m going to pick up and do something, you better do it to the f*cking best that you could.”
Check out the full interview where Ferguson talks about his upcoming fight, his transition into boxing and so much more.