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Tony Ferguson is without a doubt one of the very best Mixed Martial Arts fighters in the world right now. "El Cucuy" can strike with the greatest striking specialists in the UFC, besides also going toe-to-toe in the grappling realm with some of the trickiest grapplers in the world's premier MMA organization.
Ferguson introduced his arrival on the UFC roster, by winning the TUF (The Ultimate Fighter) Season 13 finale, as he knocked out Ramsey Nijem to become the TUF 13 Welterweight winner. Following which, the self-proclaimed "Boogeyman" returned to the Lightweight division.
Over the course of his long and storied career, Ferguson has been praised by one and all for having transformed himself from a wrestler, to a complete MMA fighter -- in fact, the vast majority of combat sports fans and experts assert that Ferguson is one of the most well-rounded fighters to have ever stepped foot inside the UFC's famed Octagon.
The former Interim UFC Lightweight Champion is notorious for being more than capable of finishing off even the slickest of opponents, with a vast array of punches, elbows, kicks, knees, as well as submissions. On that note, today, we take a special look at the 5 best Tony Ferguson UFC fights...
#5 Tony Ferguson vs. Josh Thomson
Back in 2015, Tony Ferguson fought widely respected Lightweight technician Josh Thomson at UFC Fight Night: Mir vs. Duffee. The fight between Ferguson and Thomson was considered to be a highly significant clash between top Lightweight contenders, with the winner likely receiving a shot at the UFC 155 pound title in the future.
Ferguson started off the fight measuring Thomson with his trademark long jab, before entering mid-range, and slashing the latter with a seemingly never-ending volley of elbows. Needless to say, Thomson was left a bloody mess, and what added to his woes, is that he was also quite dazed since most elbows connected flush on his temple!
We ought to give Thomson major props here, especially because the man somehow managed to survive the horrific beat-down, and make it to the end of the 3rd and final round of the fight -- Ferguson was declared the winner of the brutal, bloody affair, by way of Unanimous Decision...
#4 Tony Ferguson vs. Edson Barboza
After running through Josh Thomson in July of 2015, Tony Ferguson faced Muay Thai phenom Edson Barboza in December of the same year, at the The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber Finale.
A highly intriguing part of Ferguson's fight with Barboza, was that the latter used an excellent jab in order to flummox Ferguson. Make no mistake about it, folks...Unlike the Thomson fight, Ferguson had a very tough time dealing with Barboza!
A notable sequence of the fight was that Ferguson was seemingly dazed by Barboza's clean boxing, but continued being the aggressor nonetheless. It may very well have been Ferguson's refusal to back down, and unrelenting pressure, which eventually caused Barboza to gas out.
Well, once Ferguson sensed that his opponent was utterly exhausted and had little-to-no sting in his strikes, the former moved in for the kill. El Cucuy repeatedly struck Barboza with alternating left-right hooks, and threw in a few elbows for good measure.
The end came in Round 2, when Ferguson had a bloody and dazed Barboza in a D'Acre Choke -- securing the tap and with it, the submission victory...
#3 Tony Ferguson vs. Lando Vannata
At UFC Fight Night: McDonald vs. Lineker, back in July of 2016, Tony Ferguson faced then-relatively unknown fighter, Lando Vannata, in what turned out to be an instant classic. Vannata had Ferguson in all kinds of trouble in the early going -- managing to drop Ferguson multiple times over the course of the fight.
Perhaps the most significant knockdown in the entire fight, came when Vannata pulled off one of the most beautiful head-kicks ever landed in Mixed Martial Arts history. Vannata had a hold of Ferguson's leg, and the latter seemingly expected him to finish the takedown.
Nevertheless, Vannata pulled the leg towards himself in a manner that jolted Ferguson's head downwards -- with Vannata simultaneously throwing a head-kick, that was amplified since Ferguson moved right into the strike!
Ferguson was on roller-skates after the thunderous head-kick, and somehow got back to his feet, only to be knocked down again. El Cucuy deserves all the credit in the world for surviving here, and coming back in Round 2, to land several beautiful punches, before catching Vannata's neck in a standing front choke.
Furthermore, Ferguson transitioned from the standing front choke, to a D'Arce Choke for the submission win in the 2nd round...
#2 Tony Ferguson vs. Kevin Lee
It was at UFC 216, that Tony Ferguson faced Kevin Lee for the Interim UFC Lightweight Championship. Although it was later revealed that Lee had come into the fight with a staph infection, the young fighter was said to have been in fighting shape, as the infection hadn't really escalated beyond control until well after the fight was done with.
Nevertheless, this may perhaps be one of Ferguson's most interesting fights, particularly from a purely technical standpoint. We ought to note here, that Ferguson has only lost 3 fights as a professional MMA fighter -- a decision and submission losses respectively early in his career, and a Unanimous Decision loss to longtime UFC contender Michael Johnson back in 2012.
However, when matched up against Lee at UFC 216, Ferguson seemed to struggle with the former's wrestle-boxer style, as Lee surprisingly landed several jabs and right hands on El Cucuy. In fact, Lee fought so well, that he went to achieve the full-mount position; then proceeding to rain down ground-and-pound strikes on Ferguson.
Notwithstanding, Ferguson defended well against the ground-and-pound onslaught, and continued tiring out Lee by fighting at a frenetic pace. In Round 3, Ferguson caught an exhausted Lee in a Triangle Choke -- securing the submission finish, and winning the Interim UFC Lightweight Title...
#5 Tony Ferguson vs. Anthony Pettis
Tony Ferguson suffered an unfortunate knee injury after the Kevin Lee fight, and was subsequently stripped of the Interim UFC Lightweight Title. Well, after rehabbing his knee, El Cucuy returned to the Octagon at UFC 229, to take on former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis in a potential number-1 contender's fight; with the winner likely getting the next title shot at the UFC's 155-pound title.
The fight lasted for the entirety of 2 rounds, and turned out to be an instant classic. Pettis dropped Ferguson, not once, but twice -- dinging the latter with beautiful, crisp punches. However, Ferguson recovered swiftly, and proceeded to attack Pettis' body with punches, kicks and knees.
Ferguson continued his onslaught on Pettis in Round 2, however, the latter continually fired back with strikes of his own. At the end of the second round, Ferguson -- who'd himself been bloodied up by his opponent in Round 1 -- had sliced up Pettis with sharp elbows all over the latter's face.
Between Rounds 2 and 3, Pettis' corner called off the fight, citing the fact that he'd broken his hand and therefore couldn't continue to fight at an optimal level. Resultantly, Ferguson was declared the winner by way of TKO.
Which Tony Ferguson fights did you like the most? Sound off in the comments!
