Tony Ferguson recently set a record for the most consecutive losses in UFC history after suffering a first-round submission defeat to Michael Chiesa at UFC on ABC 7. Following this loss, speculation increased about Ferguson’s potential retirement, especially after his struggle to secure a win for over three years. Typically, fighters in the UFC do not endure such lengthy losing streaks, making Ferguson’s situation particularly noteworthy.
However, during the post-fight interview, Chiesa gave Ferguson the chance to announce his retirement, yet Ferguson opted to hold onto one glove, indicating he is not ready to end his fighting career just yet. He expressed the intention to keep the door open for future opportunities, despite acknowledging the slim chances of returning to the UFC, especially after eight losses.
Ferguson, who turned 40 in February, stated that if the UFC does not wish to bring him back, he is prepared to explore other options. He emphasized that fans willing to invest their time and money into watching him fight will continue to support him, wherever he competes.
During the event in Abu Dhabi, Ferguson reminisced about his wrestling roots and hinted that he might explore opportunities in bare-knuckle boxing, which requires fighters to wear wrestling or boxing shoes.
Ferguson, the winner of Season 13 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” previously enjoyed a remarkable 12-fight winning streak and holds several accolades in the sport, including multiple performance bonuses. Despite his recent struggles, he remains confident in his abilities and the legacy he has built in mixed martial arts.
His current losing streak started in May 2020 after a high-stakes interim title match against Justin Gaethje, which would have set up a long-anticipated fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov, a matchup that has fallen through multiple times over the years.