Tony Ferguson is currently preparing for what could be his final fight.
The former interim UFC lightweight champion is booked to face long-time welterweight contender Michael Chiesa at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, on August 3.
UFC kingmaker Dana White recently said of the 40-year-old, who is past his prime as a fighter, that he should call it quits.
Ferguson got in great shape and tried to roll back the years before his last fight.
In November 2023, ‘El Cucuy’ teamed with former Navy SEAL and ultramarathon runner, David Goggins, to prepare for a scrap with Paddy Pimblett at UFC 296 on December 16.
Goggins, a bestselling author and social media personality with 11.8 million followers on Instagram, shared videos of himself putting Ferguson through the wringer.
Day one of ‘Hell Week’ saw the UFC legend complete more than three hours of gruelling high-intensity cardio, more than 600 push-ups, and tons of chest exercises, bike, and rowing work.
Despite the brutal schedule, Ferguson became the first person to successfully complete the Goggins ‘Hell Week’ without quitting.
“Tony finished Hell Week today,” Goggins wrote on Instagram. “I have had many people try yet he is the first one to get through it.
“I have had a lot of great athletes over the years want to train with me but for one reason or another, ‘something’
always miraculously comes up so they can’t complete it.
“There is a look I see on the faces of people who are on the brink of quitting called the thousand-yard stare. They start asking questions- when is it going to end? What’s next? How many sets are left? Are we coming back again tonight? Is this healthy for you?”
“I broke El Cucuy on Day One, or at least I thought I did. I had him deep in the hurt locker and figured the questions were soon to be coming. I told Kish [Goggins wife] late that night ‘This motherf***** is done!’
“But, I was wrong. He woke up on Day Two even more fired up to go. There was never a question asked. His response was always the same, ‘OK, Coach.’
“I was there for the rebirth of El Cucuy. It happened somewhere on the Jacob’s Ladder at around 11:11pm. I knew then that the torture I was putting him through was no longer torture.
“A lot of people ask me if I think he will win his next fight- I don’t have the first damn clue about that. That’s up to Tony. What I do know is that the man who walks into the octagon on December 16th will be a deeply changed man.
“Sometimes when the fight is near, the warrior must go back home because home is where the hell began. My friends, Tony is home! Hello darkness my old friend.”
All of Ferguson’s hard work counted for nothing on fight night as Pimblett dropped and easily outpointed him over three rounds – his seventh straight loss in the UFC.
‘The Baddy’ was a massive step down in opposition for Ferguson, who finds himself on a lengthy slump after sharing the Octagon with Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler.
You have to go back to June 2019, against Donald Cerrone, for Ferguson’s last win. Most UFC stars would’ve already been cut for such as bad run of form.
But six months on as a future Hall of Famer, Ferguson has been given the chance to go out on his terms, and fans will be hoping he calls it a career win, lose or draw against Chiesa.
FERGUSON’S FOES
Paddy Pimblett (December 2023) – LOSS
Bobby Green (January 2023) – LOSS
Nate Diaz (September 2022) – LOSS
Michael Chandler (May 2022) – LOSS
Beneil Dariush (May 2021) – LOSS
Charles Oliveira (May 2020) – LOSS
Justin Gaethje (May 2019) – LOSS
News Summary:
- I smashed David Goggins’ Hell Week but lost seventh straight fight – now Dana White’s called for retirement
- Check all news and articles from the latest Football updates.