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Tony Ferguson has had a rough go lately with his losing streak. Many fans and media have been quick to tell Tony to retire and ride off into the sunset without taking any more damage.
Ferguson’s comments of “f*ck retiring” on the JAXXON Podcast hosted by former UFC Light Heavyweight champion (and MMA royalty) Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson stirred up some negative feelings from former Strikeforce Lightweight champ, Josh Thomson.
‘Big’ John McCarthy and Josh Thomson dove deep into the discussion of whether Tony Ferguson should hang up the gloves.
“[The wheels] are off. It’s time to move on,” Thomson said during the latest episode of the WEIGHING IN Podcast. “It’s a decision that every fighter has to make and I know that he’s going to have to make it on his own. Maybe there’s a lot of money left on the table and the UFC willing to keep [letting him fight], but I’m looking at him and I’m thinking, right now you’re just being selfish.”
Thomson spoke on how Tony Ferguson should start to think about his family and any long term goals he has with them.
“He’s got kids and he needs to stop being selfish and start thinking about them,” Thomson added. “Don’t look at it about yourself, that’s the problem. He’s gotta look at it in terms of where are you gonna be at after this? Are you you going to be able to still throw the ball with your kids? Are you going to still be able to try to wrestle and teach your kids how to wrestle?”
‘Big’ John McCarthy Shares His Thoughts with Josh Thomson
‘Big’ John McCarthy has been around fighters for such a long time that he weighed in on the situation and gave his thoughts on whether it’s time for Tony to retire.
“The problem is, Tony has got a different mentality than a lot of people,” McCarthy said during the podcast. “He is a fighter to the core. He loves it, and he’s not looking two steps ahead. He’s not even looking one step ahead. He’s looking at right now, this is what I want to do and not understanding what the last seven fights have done to him as a fighter and to him as a person. As a guy who wants to be there for your kids and grandkids.”
“Gotta look and say the damage will add up and there comes a point when it’s over for everyone and I would love to see Tony take the advice of other people. Take the advice of anybody who’s close to him at this point and say, ‘It’s okay, man. You had a phenomenal career, but losing is just as contagious as winning.’ It starts to seep into your soul.”
It will be interesting to hear Tony Ferguson’s response to what ‘Big’ John McCarthy and Josh Thomson discussed. Perhaps he could be a guest on the WEIGHING IN Podcast and have a conversation about the topic of whether to retire or not.
Fight fans, do you agree that it is time for Tony Ferguson to hang up the gloves? Or are John McCarthy and Josh Thomson out of line for their critique? Let us know!
