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LAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 06: Tony Ferguson smiles during his fight against Anthony Pettis at UFC 229 at the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, October 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Hans Gutknecht/Digital First Media/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)
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LAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 06: Tony Ferguson smiles during his fight against Anthony Pettis at UFC 229 at the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, October 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Hans Gutknecht/Digital First Media/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)
The UFC 291 enthralled most of its fans with a few unexpected twists. However, it may be said that those twists disheartened a number of fans deeply as well. Starting from ‘The Diamond’, Dustin Poirier’s head-kick KO loss, to the famed UFC Lightweight, Tony Ferguson, picking up yet another defeat. The UFC 291 ended in a catastrophe for some as well.
It may be safely said that most in the UFC community wanted to watch the noted former UFC Interim Lightweight champ, Ferguson get back to winning ways. ‘El Cucuy’ is one of the most tenured fighters on the current UFC roster. Fans couldn’t help noticing his remarkable prowess in the game after he went undefeated for 12 straight fights amid the years 2013-2019. But ‘The Boogeyman’ of the UFC currently looks to be in the twilight years of his career.
After his loss at UFC 291, Ferguson now holds a rather shameful losing streak of 6 fights. Even before his loss, his loyal fans could well sense his decreasing caliber in the sport due to his age. A number of them also put out their requests, asking Ferguson to consider retirement now. Now, with ‘The 39-year-old’ picking up yet another devastating defeat, most of those fans might put out similar requests before him again.
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Will Tony Ferguson retire after a submission loss at UFC 291?
This question might be valued at probably a million dollars right now. But its preciousness only indicates that there are very few that would know the answer to it. In this case, probably nobody in this world knows the definite answer to whether Tony Ferguson will continue fighting in the UFC.
If we consider the perspective of the fans, they had already been asking Ferguson to retire. Being in a sport even after an athlete’s prime years often proves to be humiliating. It’s also understandable that Ferguson’s fans had endured enough of him getting beaten up.
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JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – MAY 09: Tony Ferguson of the United States looks on against Justin Gaethje of the United States after their Interim lightweight title fight during UFC 249 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on May 09, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
They had watched the once 12-fight-win-streak holder currently hold a five-fight losing streak. In this process, he has also taken a huge toll on his body. This was probably why they didn’t want Ferguson to tarnish his body and reputation even more.
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But that definitely doesn’t mean ‘El Cucuy’ will give in to the requests of his fans. He has been truly an unpredictable one, scaring the UFC boss Dana White in most of his staredowns.
Why does UFC 291’s Bobby Green believes Tony Ferguson’s career slump is deceiving?
It won’t be wrong to say that the fans were proven right regarding their requests to Ferguson. ‘The Boogeyman’of the UFC looked in good touch initially as he knocked his opponent, Bobby Green, down once. However, Ferguson absorbed a lot of individual strikes from the ‘King’ that busted his face up.
Still, he kept striking and managed to rock Green a couple of times more before submitting to an arm triangle choke in the final round of the bout. However, Ferguson’s toughness in going on even after getting busted up earned him massive respect from his opponent. The previously trash-talking ‘King’ couldn’t help appreciating Ferguson’s warrior mentality in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan.
Further, at the post-event press conference, Green took a question asking for his thoughts on Ferguson’s retirement. However, ‘The 36-year-old’ presented a negative opinion in answer to the question. ‘King’ revealed he didn’t see Ferguson as a fighter, he who should consider retiring from the sport.
Green also stated, “someone else could’ve slowed down or stopped” after the amount of punishment Ferguson had taken. But the super-durable ‘Boogeyman’ of the UFC kept going till he was choked.
This awesome, warrior-like mentality of Ferguson was the prime reason why Green didn’t feel like he should consider retirement currently.
Tony Ferguson’s defiant take on retirement rumors pre-fight
Tony Ferguson and Bobby Green carried an uncanny similarity in their opinions about whether the former should consider retirement or not. Although, Green gave out his opinion at the post-UFC 291 press conference. ‘El Cucuy’ expressed his defying views about his retirement at the pre-UFC 291 media day itself.
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In answer to one of the reporter’s questions about his retirement, ‘El Cucuy’ stated, “I feel at this point in time in my life, I’m barely hitting my prime, which is crazy,”. Even a number of reporters might have been taken aback by such words from Ferguson.
He also revealed how he had a superb training camp. Further, ‘the California native’ also said, “I’m shocked. I’m really shocked. I’m just as sharp as I look, baby”. Well, a number of fans might agree that Ferguson did actually look sharp with his striking. However, it was probably his overall speed and endurance that had got compromised with the passage of time.
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But, will these factors be enough to restrict Ferguson from setting foot inside the octagon once again? Also, would you really like it if he decides to continue fighting in the UFC?