'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Just a few years ago, Conor McGregor and Tony Ferguson were considered to be two of the best fighters in the lightweight division.
After the Irishman defeated Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 to become the first UFC fighter to hold two championship belts simultaneously, there was talk of him fighting 'El Cucuy' to defend his title. But the fight never came to fruition.
'The Notorious' has fought in the lightweight division three times since his win over Alvarez and has lost three bouts. This has put a significant dent on McGregor's image as one of the best fighters ever to grace the octagon.
Tony Ferguson, on the other hand, was considered to be one of the most dangerous lightweights in the UFC as late as May 2020. After stacking up a highly impressive 12-fight winning streak in arguably the most dangerous division in the UFC, 'El Cucuy' faced Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight championship at UFC 249. After a devastating fight and a TKO loss, the 37-year-old lost his aura of invincibility.
The rough patch for Ferguson didn't end there. 'The Boogeyman' went on to get dominated in his next two fights. He lost to Beneil Dariush and current 155-pound champion Charles Oliveira.
McGregor and Ferguson now stand at a crossroads, with their future in the UFC uncertain.
Both fighters have often taken digs at each other on social media. So it seems like a perfect time to make this fantasy match-up come true.
Here are five reasons why a fight between Conor McGregor and Tony Ferguson would make perfect sense right now:
#5 The trash talk between Conor McGregor and Tony Ferguson would be fireworks
Conor McGregor and Tony Ferguson tend to drop iconic lines on the mic whenever given an opportunity. While the Irishman is notorious for his trash-talking skills, 'El Cucuy' is not far behind. Ferguson recently came up with 'Dana White privilege' in the UFC 262 pre-fight press conference, leaving Dana White and the audience in splits.
Watch the clip below:
If a fight between the two were to be made, fans would see some entertaining encounters, to say the least.
#4 Both Conor McGregor and Tony Ferguson need to break their losing streak
Before 2021, Conor McGregor had never lost two fights in a row in his MMA career. But the year started on the wrong note for the Irishman as he suffered his first TKO loss at the hands of Dustin Poirier at UFC 257. The two fighters met in a trilogy bout at the recently concluded UFC 264, but the Irishman suffered another TKO, this time via Doctor's Stoppage.
Also read: When was the last time Conor McGregor won a fight?
Tony Ferguson had also never faced two consecutive defeats in his MMA career before 2020. 'El Cucuy,' however, finds himself on a three-fight skid in the 155-pound division. His last loss came to Beneil Dariush at UFC 262.
Many have asked the former interim champion to retire, alleging that the 37-year-old is a shell of his former self.
Both fighters desperately need to break their losing streak against a worthy opponent to resuscitate their UFC career.
The Irishman already holds Ferguson in high regard as he once called 'El Cucuy' the most underrated fighter in the 155-pound division. The 37-year-old has also been calling out McGregor for years.
So a matchup between the two lightweight stars would make perfect sense right now.
#3 Tony Ferguson deserves a big money-fight before the end of his UFC career
Tony Ferguson has been a household name in the UFC for almost a decade. 'El Cucuy' has many big names on his resume, like Rafael dos Anjos, Kevin Lee, Edson Barboza, Anthony Pettis, and Donald Cerrone.
Still, Ferguson has never had a big payday, and a fight with Conor McGregor, unarguably the biggest draw in the UFC, would be precisely that. With all the wear and tear he has suffered throughout his MMA career, the 37-year-old cannot fight much longer. A fight with McGregor would guarantee big money for Tony Ferguson.
#2 Conor McGregor needs a step down in competition
Conor McGregor has only had one win on his resume in the past five years, against Donald Cerrone at UFC 246. His record has led many to call the Irishman a 'has been.' McGregor's drive and mentality have been targeted, with the question of retirement looming.
But recency bias would have people forget that 'Notorious' has only lost the most elite fighters.
During that period, McGregor's first loss came against boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, considered one of the greatest boxers to have ever lived. The Irishman still had an impressive outing, going 10 rounds with 'Money' before losing via TKO. Many also gave Conor McGregor the first three rounds of the fight, with Floyd seemingly spending his time reading the Irishman.
'Mystic Mac' suffered his next loss against Khabib Nurmagomedov, arguably one of the greatest MMA fighters ever. The 32-year-old gave a decent account of himself as he took the fight to the fourth round before eventually losing via submission.
The Irishman's last two losses were handed to him by Dustin Poirier, who is likely next to fight for the lightweight title against Charles Oliveira. 'The Diamond' is a battle-hardened veteran who also almost submitted Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242, before falling victim to a submission by the Dagestani.
McGregor has faced elite competition throughout the last five years.
What 'The Notorious' needs to do is take a step down in competition. Tony Ferguson, who has lost his last three fights, will be the perfect choice.
#1 Conor McGregor vs Tony Ferguson will be a highly entertaining fight
Conor McGregor vs Tony Ferguson has the potential to be one of the greatest fights in UFC history. Both fighters have exciting fighting styles and always deliver highly entertaining action in the octagon.
Conor McGregor is an elite striker who has the power to knock his opponents out with a single shot. Ferguson, on the other hand, has a rock-solid chin and is almost impossible to knock out, as was seen in his fight against Gaethje.
Although 'El Cucuy' is known for his amazing jiu-jitsu skills, he will not shy from keeping the fight on the feet with the Irishman. Thus, this potential matchup has 'instant classic' written all over it.
