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#4. Tony Ferguson vs. Donald Cerrone, UFC 238
The new generation of fight fans will sadly remember Cerrone for his winless run from 2020 to 2022 before his much-deserved retirement from MMA. More seasoned UFC fans will always remember Donald Cerrone as an exciting finisher, known for fighting an absurd amount of times per year. At the peak of his career, 'Cowboy' was at the helm of an 8-fight win streak, which included a win over future UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez.
Back in 2019, Cerrone was on a 3-fight win streak with intentions of exceeding his career-best of 8 consecutive victories. Unfortunately, an unstoppable force stood in his path in the form of Tony Ferguson. The 1st round of their bout was somewhat competitive before Ferguson's relentless pressure began to wear on 'Cowboy'. By the 2nd round, 'El Cucuy' had assumed complete control of the fight, battering his foe from pillar to post.
In a decision that was more than questionable for an MMA veteran like Cerrone, he blew his nose, causing his swollen eye to close shut. With his vision impaired, Cerrone was spared further punishment by the cageside doctor before Ferguson was awarded the 2nd round TKO victory in what remains the last win of his career before his ongoing 4-fight losing streak.
#3. Tony Ferguson vs. Anthony Pettis, UFC 229
After his comeback win over Kevin Lee at UFC 216, Tony Ferguson earned his long-awaited matchup with Khabib Nurmagomedov for the then vacant lightweight title at UFC 223. Unfortunately, Ferguson's penchant for wearing sunglasses indoors led to him tripping over a cable during a media scrum, causing him to injure his knee ligaments. With no choice but to withdraw from the scheduled bout with Nurmagomedov, Ferguson spent nearly a year in recovery.
At UFC 223, 'El Cucuy' returned against former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis. Many feared that Ferguson wouldn't be the same fighter he once was due to the severity of his knee injury, in addition to the cage-rust. While 'El Cucuy' had a slow start to the bout, he gradually took over as he stunned and cut Pettis with his patented elbows, even amidst being dropped. What began as an initial back-and-forth fight shifted in Ferguson's favor.
By the 2nd round, Pettis was overwhelmed by 'El Cucuy's' pressure and volume. Before the 3rd round, 'Showtime's' corner found that he had broken his hand. Prioritizing his fighter's health, Duke Roufus refused to send Pettis into the 3rd round. It was a successful return for Ferguson after a year-long absence due to his grievous knee injury.
