Despite enduring an abysmal eight-fight losing streak, Tony Ferguson recently made his intentions crystal clear through a spirited Instagram post. “As an artist, I aim to show something you’ve never seen before,” Ferguson wrote. “Happy New Year, crew. 2025 in my sights. Stay tuned and watch the magic unfold. New missions acknowledged. Fight news coming soon.” Whether his return will be with the UFC or elsewhere remains uncertain—but Ferguson seems open to all possibilities.

Is ‘El Cucuy’ really prepared to part ways with his 14-year relationship with the UFC? Regardless of what Ferguson eventually decides to reveal, the latest rumor about his potential debut in another organization at the age of 40 has put the MMA community on high alert. In his recent appearance on the ‘JAXXON Podcast’ on YouTube, former UFC referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy expressed his concerns about ‘El Cucuy’ and offered heartfelt advice.

McCarthy reflected on how Tony Ferguson’s struggles began during his fight with Justin Gaethje at UFC 249. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nurmagomedov was unable to leave Russia, forcing Ferguson to face Gaethje instead of his originally scheduled opponent. McCarthy remarked, “Tony took more damage in that one fight than he took in his entire career up to that point.” ‘El Cucuy’, who had spent months preparing for Khabib’s grappling, found himself up against Gaethje’s devastating striking, which threw off his entire game plan.

Since that fight, his career has been on a downward trend. However, Big John McCarthy passed along some valuable advice for Ferguson’s future. McCarthy said, “So with Tony, I would love to see him take his mentality, take everything he did in the sport, and all the effort he put into it. If he does those same things in a different direction—be it training, coaching, or anything else—he’ll be a success. But you’ve got to hang up being the person stepping into the cage to fight.”

Moreover, his former UFC opponent Kevin Lee added fuel to the speculation during an appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani. Lee, who recently signed with the newly formed Global Fighting League (GFL), revealed that the former interim champ is in discussions with the promotion.

Regardless of whether the rumors about Ferguson potentially joining the GFL league are true, McCarthy considers it “a giant disaster,” believing that the promotion would likely exploit the American’s image to boost its ratings. However, this isn’t the first time ‘Big’ John McCarthy has offered advice to Ferguson. Following his loss to Michael Chandler in 2022, McCarthy delivered tough, candid advice regarding the troubling trajectory of the ex-interim champion’s career.

Notable MMA figures advise Tony Ferguson to stop for good

Tony Ferguson is at a point in his career when many fighters have already retired from MMA. Once riding a 12-fight win streak, the American is now embroiled in an eight-fight losing streak. Despite this, he continues to believe there is more for him to achieve in the sport, pushing forward with determination. However, many prominent figures in MMA feel it’s time for him to retire before it’s too late. Among them is Daniel Cormier, who has been advising Ferguson to step away for the past two years, repeatedly calling it “his time.”

In 2023, following Ferguson’s third-round submission loss to Bobby Green, Cormier voiced his concerns, saying, “I think it might be time for [Ferguson] to either say to the UFC, ‘I want to keep fighting, but the competition needs to go down,’ or go fight somewhere else. He’s going to be mad at me about it, but yes, the fight’s still there. It just does not seem the body is able to respond in the way his mind is telling it to. So, I tap in (on Ferguson walking away).”

In early 2024, ‘El Cucuy’s’ former rival, Khabib Nurmagomedov, also weighed in, reminding Ferguson that he’s no longer the dominant force he once was in the lightweight division. Khabib urged the former interim champion to “leave the sport for the young fighters” and focus on spending time with his family instead.

What’s your perspective on ‘Big’ John McCarthy’s thoughts about Tony Ferguson’s future? Is it time for the American to retire and focus his energy elsewhere? Consider examples like Chael Sonnen, Daniel Cormier, and even Big John McCarthy himself. After all, life beyond the Octagon offers plenty of opportunities. Share your thoughts below.