5 iconic Tony Ferguson moments in the UFC

#4. Tony Ferguson demolishes Josh Thomson – UFC Fight Night 71

After a successful showing on The Ultimate Fighter, Tony Ferguson joined the talent-filled UFC lightweight division and got off to an incredible start. He went 7-1 in his first eight fights, finishing the likes of Yves Edwards, Katsunori Kikuno, Abel Trujillo, and Gleison Tibau along the way.

In his ninth UFC bout, Ferguson took on former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson at UFC Fight Night 71.

Up until his bout with Thomson, Ferguson had a cult following and developed a reputation for being a slick grappler with awkward, yet effective, striking. His performance against 'The Punk' served as a prelude to the best of 'El Cucuy', as it was the first time he displayed the signature style of fighting that made him a massive star.

Ferguson's now-legendary use of elbows was first on display in his fight against Thomson. The TUF winner put an absolute beating on his fellow Californian counterpart, slicing and dicing his way to a unanimous decision victory.

A couple of unorthodox elbow strikes opened deep cuts on Thomson's face and by the end of the fight, he looked like he'd been through a cheese grater. The former Strikeforce and Bellator fighter has since opened up about his experience of fighting Ferguson, saying that it was unlike anything he had faced previously.

Watch the full fight below:

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#3. Tony Ferguson and Lando Vannata deliver 'Fight of the Year' candidate – UFC Fight Night 91

Five months after his triumph over Josh Thomson, Tony Ferguson produced another statement-making win against surging Brazilian striker Edson Barboza. He submitted Barboza in the second round of their bout to solidify his status as one of the most promising contenders at 155 pounds.

Likely one or two wins away from a championship opportunity, Ferguson was booked to take on fellow TUF winner Michael Chiesa. Chiesa won season 15 of the reality series and was riding a three-fight win streak going into the scheduled bout with 'El Cucuy'.

The fascinating matchup between the two lethal grapplers was a highly-anticipated bout. As such, it came as a massive disappointment when Chiesa was forced to pull out two weeks before the fight. On short notice, the UFC replaced 'The Maverick' with promotional newcomer Lando Vannata, who held a perfect 8-0 record at the time.

Many wrote off Vannata as soon as he was announced as the replacement, citing that it was not a very competitive matchup. Ferguson was expected to run through 'Groovy' and the odds reflected the same, with 'El Cucuy' closing as a massive betting favorite.

The bout that ensued turned out to be one of the best fights of 2016. Vannata got floored by a jab early in the first round and bounced back in spectacular fashion, dropping Ferguson four times inside the opening five minutes. With one round clearly in the bag, likely a 10-8, Vannata probably should've played it safe in the second.

Instead, he went after Ferguson with everything he had, catching him with a thunderous head kick and some perfectly timed counters. Moments later, he got sloppy and left his neck exposed in the clinch. 'El Cucuy' snatched onto it and transitioned from a guillotine to a D'Arce choke, forcing Vannata to tap.

If Tony Ferguson had beaten Michael Chiesa, he probably would've received a title shot straight away. Nevertheless, the win over Lando Vannata put Ferguson in a very strong position in the title mix atop the lightweight division. Moreover, the Vannata bout served as a clear indicator of Ferguson's toughness, one of his scariest attributes.

Watch the full fight below: