Issue 129

June 2015

Following his destruction of Gleison Tibau, lightweight Tony Ferguson has his sights set on proving his worth in the 155lb division

Age: 31

Pro Debut: 2008

Alias: El Cucuy

Team: Reign training center / Knuckleheadz boxing

Division: Lightweight

Height: Five-foot-eleven

Style: Boxer/Wrestling

While sitting inside his locker room, watching the TV and calmly waiting to have his hands wrapped, lightweight Tony Ferguson began to realize he was a changed man ahead of his bout at UFC 184. Despite having his original opponent pull out late and then being subsequently placed against the experienced 155lb gatekeeper Gleison Tibau, currently on a 3-0 win streak, Ferguson was no longer nervous about fighting.

In fact, the only emotion he felt was excitement. After all, it was the opportunity he’d been waiting for: the chance to prove to Dana White, Joe Silva and anyone else who had ever doubted him, that he’s ready to take on the best the lightweight division has to offer.

And so it proved, as far as Ferguson’s concerned. After cracking Tibau behind the ear with a pinpoint right hand that made his legs wobble like jelly, ‘El Cucuy’ pounced on his beleaguered opponent before sinking in a fight-finishing rear naked choke in the first round. And, as he celebrated in front of the Los Angeles crowd at the Staples Center, and saw White and Silva applauding him, Ferguson knew he’d given the type of performance that would get him to where he wants to be.

“After my last fight, I’ve got one more fight left on my contract. I wanted the UFC to see how much I’ve improved as a fighter,” Ferguson explains to Fighters Only, with a stern voice. 

“I don’t want to fight on the preliminary cards any more because I know I’m better than that. They know that, the fans know that and I know that. We all know that s**t.

“I personally can’t wait until I’m fighting in more co-main events, or fighting in the main event. I’ve taken my chances and I’ve told them before that I belong on the main card. Don’t give me a bulls**t spot. I want to be in the spot I deserve. If you put me in a high-level spot then I will perform to that standard, especially with a high-profile fighter.” 

He adds: “Don’t get me wrong, if I’m given a mediocre fighter then I’m still going to perform to the best of my abilities. However, if they give me a fighter in the top 10 I’m going to perform like I’m a champion.”

Ferguson’s eagerness to prove he’s in the top echelon of MMA fighters is nothing new to him, though. According to the Mexican-American, his drive to be successful in the world of combat sports is simply part of his heritage.

“I’m Mexican. I’ve always been a fighter,” he laughs. “Ever since I was little I’ve always been scrappy. I’ve been wrestling since I was a child. It’s just one of those things about being Mexican: people want to fight you. I was always roughhousing with my uncles and other family members, and from when I was little I always wanted to be the best fighter in the world.”

Although he’s had aspirations to become a professional fighter since he was a young boy, when the Muskegon, Michigan, native made the 2,310-mile trip from his hometown to California to pursue his dreams of being an MMA star, his family wasn’t entirely convinced by his decision.

“At first, before I went to the UFC, they didn’t know what was going on,” says the 31-year-old. “It was kind of hard for them to understand. I made the move from Michigan, where I’d lived for 18 years, to California, where my extended family lives, but none of them could understand how I’d stay in competition that long.

“They were confused and asking me stuff like, ‘Well, if you’re not working, what are you doing?’ But, in my mind, I was working; I was just in the gym.”

Despite their initial reservations about his career choice, Ferguson eventually managed to convince his family it would all be worthwhile; a task made easier when he was chonsen to compete on the 13th season of The Ultimate Fighter.

Drafted in as the third pick for Team Lesnar, Ferguson steamrolled through the competition, knocking out Justin Edwards, Ryan McGillivray and Chuck O’Neil, before he defeated Ramsey Nijem in the finale to win a prestigious six-figure contract. Although many former TUF competitors and coaches, including Ronda Rousey and Joanne Calderwood, have declared their dislike for the show, Ferguson believes the experience helped him to significantly improve as a fighter.

“My experience on The Ultimate Fighter was awesome,” he recalls. “I got to train 24/7, and that’s all I had to worry about. I didn’t have to worry about where I was going to sleep or where I was going to eat. It was one of the most structured things I’ve ever had, and it’s set me up for my entire career.

“Having Brock Lesnar as a coach, and having him sponsor me for my fight against Ramsey Nijem at the TUF finale, was a dream come true and I’ve never let him or anyone else down. I haven’t let my opportunities go to waste; that show set me up to achieve my overall goal.”

After he finished Tibau and added another name to his stellar five-fight winning streak, Joe Silva can’t deny Ferguson’s wishes to face top opposition any longer. And with the rankings in the 155lb division in constant state of flux, the 31-year-old is ready to seize any and all opportunities that are given him and show he’s a lightweight to be reckoned with.

“You know, when it comes to fighting, I’ll fight anyone,” he declares. “I don’t care who it is because I’m not going to be worrying about what they’re doing: I’m worried about what I’m doing. So whoever I fight better have their cardio in check because I won’t stop until my hand is raised.”