Although he is currently on a three fight losing streak, the former interim Lightweight Champion Tony Ferguson is still one of the best fighters in that division. Let’s face it he’s one of the most entertaining fighters in that division in and outside the cage. Ferguson who is a Black Belt Under 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu’s founder and conspiracy expert Eddie Bravo. Needless to say he has many submission victories, but most of his wins have come by Knockout, pretty impressive for a grappling expert.
Ferguson was born February 12, 1984 In Oxnard, California. Ferguson would later relocate with his family to Michigan where he would grow up. He is of Mexican and Scottish descent. He would attend high school at Muskegon Catholic Central High School. He would compete in three sports while in school including football, baseball, and wrestling. In wrestling he was an All-State Selection and in football he started and won the state championship. Ferguson would go on to wrestle in college and would win the 2006 National Collegiate Wrestling Association national wrestling championship.
Ferguson would go back to California after college and began working in Marketing and bartending at night. It was at this point he started training MMA after a patron at the bar he was working at saw his cauliflower ear and invited him to his MMA gym. Ferguson would start training and would make his MMA debut against Steve Avalos for the California Xtreme Fighting: Anarchy at the Arena promotion in April of 2008 Ferguson would win via TKO (submission to punches). He’d then go on to face Brandon Adams winning by TKO (Punches) in July of 2008. He’d then face Joe Schilling winning by Submission (rear-naked choke) Ferguson would then go on to compile a 10-2 professional record before getting the call to go on The Ultimate Fighter.
Ferguson would win season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter making his official debut for the promotion on the show’s live finale in June of 2011 with a Knockout win over Ramsey Nijem. He’d then face Aaron Riley at UFC 135 he would win via TKO (jaw injury.) He’d then fight Yves Edwards winning by Unanimous Decision. He’d then face David Johnson which would lead to Ferguson’s first loss in the promotion He’d then go on a 12 fight win streak including victory over Kevin Lee for the Lightweight Interim Title, this title would later be stripped due to injury. Ferguson has not been lucky as of late in his last three fights he’s lost to assassins in the Lightweight Division with names like Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Beneil Dariush.
It is not known who Ferguson will face next, but we hope he returns to his winning ways as soon as possible.
MMA Aficionado 