Ahead of the UFC Abu Dhabi, which is set to be held on August 3, UFC President Dana White has expressed the expectation that Tony Ferguson will retire after his fight against Michael Chiesa, no matter whether he wins or loses. Ferguson is a UFC veteran and has had a stellar career in the promotion. However, recent years have seen a shocking decline in his fortunes as “El Cucuy” suffered seven straight losses and many of them were intense.
Dana hopes Tony retires after UFC Abu Dhabi
Ferguson is set to face Michael Chiesa at UFC Abu Dhabi, a match where he is clearly not the favorite. Despite this, his fans are hoping for a stunning comeback. Recently at the UFC 302 post-fight press conference, Dana White was asked if he thinks Tony Ferguson should retire after the bout, regardless of the result. To this, White responded, “Yeah I hope so. I would like to see him retire.”
Ferguson has had a stellar career
“El Cucuy” has had an impressive career. He once had an outstanding 12-fight win streak from October 2013 to May 2020, during which he also became an interim lightweight champion. Ferguson has faced tough and top-tier opponents throughout his career.
However, his injuries took a toll on him, causing him to lose seven consecutive fights, a record in the promotion. During this period, he suffered four stoppage defeats. His submission and decision defeats have also been brutal. Ferguson has absorbed 371 significant strikes in his last four bouts, getting knocked down and being unconscious twice.
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Ferguson has shown great resilience and resistance throughout his career, but now these key qualities are contributing to his downfall. Many MMA fans believe that Ferguson does not realize how much toll his career has taken on him. It is uncertain what Tony wants to achieve at this stage of his career, but it seems UFC is considering ending their professional relationship with him to avoid further damage to his career. The full fight card for UFC Abu Dhabi has not been announced yet, but the confirmed matchups promise an exciting event. UFC veteran Nick Diaz is also set to make his return for a fight against Vicente Luque, while Marlon Vera will take on Deiveson Figueiredo.
