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#4 Former interim UFC Lightweight Champion Tony Ferguson
UFC star ‘El Cucuy’ has always been an unpredictable interviewee. Notorious for his eccentric comments, colorful insults and off-tangent tirades, Ferguson was hit with a more personal issue at a press conference for UFC 249. The fifth time Dana White attempted to match Ferguson up with Khabib Nurmagomedov, UFC 249 became infamous for two things: the beatdown Khabib replacement Justin Gaethje delivered to ‘El Cucuy’ and Ferguson’s preoccupation with baseball analogies.
When asked for his thoughts on Khabib at the press conference, Ferguson extracted a baseball. Using America’s national pass time as a metaphor for his beef with ‘The Eagle’, Ferguson remained calm throughout his curious monologue. Everything was going smoothly until Cageside Press reporter Rodney James Edgar asked Ferguson about his mental health and personal issues. Visibly uncomfortable with the line of questioning, a perturbed Ferguson quickly replied with “F*** you.”
Ferguson had made clear in the past (particularly in the lead-up to his fight with Donald Cerrone at UFC 238) that he was not comfortable with questions regarding his mental health.
#3 Former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey
In the lead-up to her UFC 184 showdown with Cat Zingano, Ronda Rousey grew heated over Breitbart Sports’ Daniel Flynn’s comments on women’s MMA. UFC 184 was supported by Holly Holm vs Raquel Pennington in the co-headlining spot.
Highlighting certain sections of the UFC fanbase who were not supportive of women’s MMA, Flynn asked if the card’s drawing power would be hurt by the lack of male headliners.
Incensed, the then 10-0 UFC women’s bantamweight champ tore into Flynn, saying:
“You even asking that question, it really proves that the inequality still exists. If they put up a men’s 125-pound main and co-main event, people wouldn’t be asking the question, like, ‘Oh, if this doesn’t sell very well we might just get rid of the whole men’s division.’ Why are we still even asking the question? Do you remember the last time you asked that question to a guy?”
Things only got worse from there when Flynn questioned Rousey’s exploits outside of the octagon. A huge star for the sport by this point, Rousey was beginning to find work in film, commercials and had appeared in Sports lllustrated’s swimsuit issue that year. Flynn asked the former Olympian if all of these gigs would prove counter-productive to her training and focus. In response, Rousey said:
“The reason why you doubt the ability that it could ever be done is the reason why you will never do anything that great.”
Harsh words from the armbar whiz.
