The Tony Ferguson Enigma

As we are all well aware of by now, Tony "El Cucuy" Ferguson has been medically cleared to fight as of about a week ago. I can't remember a time when there was such debate involving a fighter with a 10 fight win streak in the most competitive division in all of MMA over who he should fight next. Yes, he hasn't fought since October. However, he wasn't retired, he simply wanted to wait for his "red panty night", which he deserved, and still does. When it became evident that this would not materialize, Tony agreed to face Khabib Nurmagomedov for the vacant but true lightweight champion of the world. Unfortunately, we all know how this story ends, but is it fair to treat Ferguson the way he's been treated since his injury transpired? He's been stripped of his interim title, and now a championship bout is on the way in October along with an apparent #1 contender spot just a month after a fight between Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz. Plus, there is a dormant GSP who could conceivably throw a wrench into things at 155 as well. Never has a fighter with a resume like Ferguson's been so maligned. Unfairly, I might add. After a frustrating two or so years at the top in a lightweight division finally appearing to approach some clarity, where does its best fighter, from what I've seen, do from here?

Tony Ferguson has a good bit of options, none of them probably too appealing. Well, except for maybe one. This longshot that I have proposed before is facing Georges St. Pierre for the true #1 contender spot at lightweight. GSP has made it known that he would like to face the winner of Conor/Khabib, but wouldn't it be wise to see him once at lightweight first? It's a hell of a cut for him, and if he can make weight, a fight between Ferguson and St.Pierre would truly reveal the most number one-y of number one contenders, perhaps ever. Not to mention that's a goddamn fantastic fight. In a tweet yesterday or two days ago, Tony referenced that he had essentially signed a contract for UFC 229 and was just waiting for the other party. Then, in typical big-name fighter fashion, he left us all some cryptic information to stew over when he mentioned something about the other fighter "callin pterodactyls". Could we just draw this up to Tony being an odd fellow, or just himself, for that matter? Absolutely. However, when GSP appeared on Joe Rogan's podcast a couple months ago, he referenced a fondness for dinosaurs and paleontology. Coincidence? Maybe, but Tony needs a fight, GSP wants to fight at lightweight and add to his legacy, and neither are booked right now. Call me crazy, but something reeks here. Reeks of bomb-ass fights dawg. I know GSP die-hards may not like this idea, but GSP's coach Firas Zahabi has stated before that he greatly respects and admires Tony Ferguson as a fighter. This would lead me to believe he would try to convince GSP to fight him at lightweight should the UFC offer it. As for Tony, I don't think there would be any resistance from him in taking a fight with St. Pierre. Finally, if the UFC is worth $7 billion like Dana says, then you don't need to preserve GSP's big name for the Conor/Khabib winner. He can definitely afford to give Tony what he deserves and what GSP should need to fight for the belt. I don't care if this would occur on 229 or headline the MSG card, I would just love to see it. Now, in fairness, I do need to address the elephant in the room.

Why does Nate Diaz have to ruin everything? I don't know who's gassing him up, but he's not a draw. If you think he is, you are just flat out wrong. Plus, he so does not deserve to be fighting Dustin Poirier for a #1 contender spot right now. It kills me that the UFC still has dreams of a trilogy between him and McGregor. Not only this, but now the belt's gonna be involved? As someone who believes that, if belts exist, then the belt should belong to the best guy in the division, chalk me up as pissed off and uninterested. I don't need or want to see Conor box his face off for five rounds again. That said, I think Poirier beats Nate quite comfortably anyway. He's more powerful, can lay on Diaz if he needs to, and has shown no issues going five rounds. It's quite possible that, because of the McGregor fights, Nate Diaz became one of the most overrated fighters in UFC history. Is (or was) Diaz good? For sure, but I only see three or four fights tops in the division currently where I'd pick him to win. Circling back to Tony, Nate Diaz definitely does not deserve a crack at the belt before him, and no, Dustin Poirier doesn't either, even with a win over Diaz.

Dustin Poirier is currently riding a three fight win streak, which have honestly all been very impressive. He's both dominated some points, and battled adversity at others, all resulting in victories. However, Tony has won ten in a row. This simply cannot be brushed under the rug, no matter how unfair it seems to Poirier. Do both guys deserve a title shot? Sure, but I'd argue that Tony is more deserving at this juncture over Dustin any day. Just the sick, twisted reality of the UFC's lightweight division these days. For what it's worth, both Dustin and Tony's last loss in the UFC have come to Michael Johnson. Crazy, isn't it? Johnson KO'd Poirier almost two years ago and won a unanimous decision over Tony waaaay back in 2012 when Tony was fighting with a broken arm. I guess I'll count this as a reason that Tony deserves a shot over Dustin too.

So we've addressed Tony possibly fighting GSP and him being the rightful #1 contender otherwise. The last option he should consider is... nothing. Just train and cross your fingers that one of Conor, Khabib, Dustin, or Nate fall out of his respective fight and swoop in to save the day. Obviously a huge risk, but if he can't fight GSP, it's certainly the much safer play to wait for an injury or something of that ilk and step in than say, fight one of Anthony Pettis, Al Iaquinta, or the Gaethje/Vick winner. Don't get me wrong, Ferguson is a sizable favorite against any one of these guys, but I just don't see him considering it. If he does, fair play to him; It would definitely look good in the MMA public eye, it just wouldn't be wise considering where he is in his MMA career right now (He turns 35 in February). 

So, in my perfect world, what do I want to happen with Tony Ferguson? Conor or Khabib fall out of their fight and Tony replaces. What do I think will happen? Tony will sign a contract to fight GSP, GSP will refuse to fight Tony, and Tony will end up being forced to fight either Anthony Pettis or Al Iaquinta in October or November. And that makes me sad.

-AM