American mixed martial artist Anthony Armand Ferguson Padilla was born on February 12, 1984. He currently competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship's Lightweight division. He was formerly the UFC's Interim Lightweight Champion. He has training in Wing Chun, Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, freestyle wrestling, and boxing.
In 2007, Ferguson started his professional MMA career by competing for small organizations in California. Early in his career, he defeated kickboxing champion Joe Schilling and lost to Karen Darabedyan, a future competitor in the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC).
At the “Ultimate Fighter 13” finale, where Ferguson faced Ramsey Nijem to determine the competition's champion, Ferguson won a UFC contract by knocking out Nijem in the opening round. Additionally, he was awarded the Knockout of the Night bonus.
On September 10, 2022, Ferguson was slated to fight Li Jingliang in the co-main event of UFC 279 to make his return to the welterweight division. Khamzat Chimaev, Nate Diaz's opponent for this card's main event, missed weight, so Ferguson instead advanced to the main event to face Nate Diaz. Ferguson was submitted in the fourth round by a guillotine choke.
At UFC 291 on July 29, 2023, Ferguson made a comeback in the Lightweight division and took on Bobby Green. Unfortunately, he lost via submission in the 3rd round.
What is Tony Ferguson's fighting style?
According to the UFC's official website, Tony Ferguson's fighting style is adaptable and versatile, putting him in the freestyle category. His fighting style has also been dubbed unorthodox and anomalous, but it is simply a synonym for freestyle.
In the UFC, freestyle simply refers to the fighter's personal preferences. When a fighter lacks training in a recognized martial art, they are typically referred to as freestyle fighters, as opposed to, occasionally, "jiu-jitsu fighters."
Ferguson has training in Wing Chun, Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, freestyle wrestling, and boxing, which is the proper definition of mixed martial arts. Ferguson holds multiple ranks in these various disciplines but not in a specific discipline.
Is Tony Ferguson a wrestler or a striker?
Tony Ferguson is technically a mix of both, as UFC fighters are expected to possess both qualities, allowing them to adjust to various circumstances and opponents. However, this query surfaced following the disclosure that Ferguson will face Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 249 on April 8, 2020.
Though the fight never took place, Nurmagomedov was unable to leave Russia due to constrained air travel as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Then Ferguson agreed to compete for the Interim UFC Lightweight Championship against Justin Gaethje as a replacement.
In theory, Ferguson's victory over Khabib was widely anticipated by fans. He had a vicious ground game in addition to being a well-known striker who had success defeating opponents like Rafael dos Anjos, Anthony Pettis, and Josh Thomson with his kickboxing.
Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje, for example, were unable to stop Khabib from defeating them because they lacked the necessary grappling abilities to repel the eagle once they were on the ground. Thus, theoretically, Ferguson seemed a likely winner.
UFC 249 was eventually held on May 9, 2020, as UFC president Dana White had previously announced. Gaethje consistently outpunched Ferguson, and in the fifth round, he was ultimately defeated by TKO. This fight earned both fighters the Fight of the Night award.
Is Tony Ferguson a black belt?
In the history of the octagon, Tony Ferguson is, without a doubt, one of the most adaptable fighters. 'El Cucuy' possesses a complete set of skills and a decorated wrestling background. In fact, he holds a black belt in jiu-jitsu.
Eddie Bravo, a well-known trainer, presented him with the honor. Ferguson received his black belt from Bravo following his submission victory over Kevin Lee at UFC 216 in 2017.
Bravo defeated Royler Gracie in 2003 and received the belt from Jean Jacques Machado. He has now given Ferguson his own belt. El Cucuy then trained jiu-jitsu with Bravo at 10th Planet.
Last Updated On December 11, 2023
FAQs
A. Tony Ferguson's fighting style is adaptable and versatile, often referred to as freestyle, incorporating techniques from various martial arts disciplines.
A. Tony Ferguson is both a wrestler and a striker, possessing skills in grappling and striking, making him well-rounded in the UFC.
A. Yes, Tony Ferguson is a black belt in jiu-jitsu, which he received from Eddie Bravo after his submission victory over Kevin Lee in 2017.
A. Tony Ferguson holds a professional MMA record of 25 wins and 9 losses (25-9-0).
A Tony Ferguson is scheduled to fight Paddy Pimblett at UFC 296 on December 16, 2023.
