Tony Ferguson pushed himself to the limit in preparation for his clash with Paddy Pimblett for the UFC 296 clash, training intensely alongside retired Navy SEAL David Goggins.
Tony Ferguson, known as ‘El Cucuy,’ faced his seventh consecutive loss at UFC 296, where he suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Paddy Pimblett. Despite glimpses of his former brilliance, Ferguson now shares the record for the longest losing streak in UFC history with B.J. Penn. Ferguson declared his continued intent to fight in a Wednesday social media post, dispelling any retirement plans.
Critics dismissed Tony Ferguson’s training with fitness expert David Goggins as foolish in preparation for UFC 296 against Pimblett. Paddy Pimblett, aka “The Baddy,” conveys respect for Ferguson’s decisions but bluntly expresses his personal opinion that Goggins’ training was unlikely to improve MMA skills.
Tony Ferguson Reflects on UFC 296 Defeat
Tony Ferguson, a former UFC interim lightweight champion, recently took to his Instagram Stories to address his recent defeat. Despite the loss, he appeared to be in good spirits. However, the current losing streak of “El Cucuy” is very different from his successful prime years, where he had a winning streak of 12 fights.
Unfortunately, he had to be stripped of the title due to an injury, which prevented him from fighting the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov. Despite his current setbacks, Tony Ferguson’s resilience and perseverance are admirable qualities that make him a fan favourite and a true warrior inside the octagon.
In 2020, Justin Gaethje put an end to Ferguson’s winning streak in a brutal fashion. He defeated “El Cucuy” by TKO in the fifth round after smashing him throughout the fight. This match was Ferguson’s opportunity to become a two-time interim UFC titleholder, but he was unsuccessful. Since then, “El Cucuy” has been on a downward spiral.
Dana White on Tony Ferguson
Before their fight, Dana White believed that this was an excellent match-up, as many people thought that Paddy was untested, and Tony had not faced such a challenge in his recent fights. Despite his six-fight losing streak, which includes losses to Justin Gaethje, Michael Chandler, Nate Diaz, and Bobby Green, Ferguson is still considered a legend in the sport. Despite the high stakes, the UFC CEO defended Ferguson’s chance to redeem himself by going up against the relatively untested Paddy Pimblett.
After their fight, Pimblett praised Ferguson and called him a legend. He also agreed that if Ferguson wants to continue fighting, he should do so. However, UFC CEO Dana White had a more negative response to Ferguson’s latest loss. He told reporters that he would love to see him retire.
In the chaotic world of UFC, Tony Ferguson’s journey is marked by setbacks and challenges. He is currently facing the aftermath of his seventh consecutive loss, which has raised questions about his retirement. Despite this, Ferguson’s unwavering spirit suggests that the story of “El Cucuy” is far from over.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
