Once there was a time when lightweights used to fear the ‘El Cucuy’ of the UFC. Ever since his debut in 2011, up until 2019, Tony Ferguson was arguably the most gruesome fighter in the promotion. Not only did he win the interim lightweight title, but he also enjoyed a 12-fight win streak around this time. Often compared to legends like Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov, Ferguson was on his way to elite success.

However, things went downhill for the MMA fighter all of a sudden. At UFC 249, he faced the current BMF champ, Justin Gaethje. The outcome of the fight shocked every UFC fan, as Ferguson lost via TKO. Ever since then, ‘El Cucuy’ hasn’t been able to recover and is currently on a six-fight losing streak. Moreover, it seems like the prime of his MMA career is over. However, the UFC and Dana White are still giving him PPV fights one after another.

Tony Ferguson’s losing streak

The string of defeats began at UFC 249 on May 9, 2020, in Florida. Ferguson faced Gaethje in a gritty battle for the interim UFC Lightweight Championship. Despite showcasing resilience, Ferguson succumbed to a TKO in the fifth round, marking the inception of his tough journey.

The downward spiral continued at UFC 256 on December 12, 2020. He lost the fight via unanimous decision to Charles Oliveira. This setback was followed by another decision loss to Beneil Dariush at UFC 262 on May 15, 2021. Moreover, the trend persisted into UFC 274. There, Michael Chandler secured victory with a KO via a memorable front kick in the second round.

Undeterred, ‘El Cucuy’ faced Nate Diaz at UFC 279 on September 10, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The American MMA fighter faced a submission defeat via guillotine choke in the fourth round. The streak reached its current status at UFC 291 on July 29, 2023, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Bobby Green sealed Ferguson’s fate with a technical submission via arm-triangle choke in the third round.

Why is Dana White giving constant PPV fights to Tony Ferguson?

With six defeats in his last six fights, it is a surprise that the former interim champ is still fighting in UFC PPVs. Moreover, he even headlined UFC 279 against Diaz while on a 4-fight losing streak. This does not happen usually in Dana White’s promotion, as only high-performing stars get a place in the PPV.

However, ‘El Cucuy’ is an exception simply due to his popularity. For years, Ferguson was on top of the UFC’s lightweight division. Moreover, his personality and attitude have helped him gain thousands of fans over the years.

Even in his losing streak, Ferguson is able to bring in a lot of viewers. This may be the sole reason behind his back-to-back PPV appearances. However, this brings up an important question in the minds of many fans. Is the UFC and Dana White using Tony Ferguson for his popularity? Some fans might agree with it, and some might not.

Tony Ferguson – just a setup for Paddy Pimblett?

At UFC 291, the 39-year-old lost via submission to Bobby Green. Green is ranked #13 in the UFC lightweight rankings and is nearing the end of his career. After a defeat to a veteran, the California-born fighter should have been handed an easier fight. However, he got one of the UFC’s top rising stars, Paddy Pimblett.

Tony Ferguson faces Pimblett at UFC 296. ‘The Baddy’ is on a 6-fight win streak currently and is showing no signs of stopping. When his fight against Ferguson was announced, the UFC got major backlash from fans who questioned the matchup. However, Dana White was firm with his decision and went on to finalize the fight.

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This has led some fans to believe that Ferguson might be nothing more than a setup for Pimblett. A win over one of the UFC’s most famous veterans might prove beneficial for Pimblett, and this is what many feel is White’s plan!

Tony Ferguson should follow Nate Diaz’s footsteps

Last year, UFC superstar Nate Diaz left the organization to pursue free agency. Diaz has since fought Jake Paul in boxing and has allegedly earned eight figures! Moreover, he has a plethora of options in front of him, which will give the former UFC star a boost in his popularity and his bank balance!

Many feel that ‘El Cucuy’ should also follow the same route. Even outside the UFC, Ferguson has many options (boxing, PFL, bare-knuckle, etc.) Further, it is safe to say that these options will pay him much more than the UFC!

Overall, things seem far from perfect for Tony Ferguson. However, the former interim champ can quickly turn the tides in his favor with his relentless hard work and passion for MMA! What do you think should be the next step for ‘El Cucuy’? Boxing crossover? Retirement? Or something else? Let us know in the comments below.

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