“I’m here to show you something you’ve never seen before… Stay tuned and watch the magic unfold. Fight news coming soon.” On New Year’s Eve, former UFC legend Tony Ferguson made it clear that retirement was far from his mind, despite previous requests from Dana White and UFC officials. Fast forward to earlier this month, and ‘El Cucuy’ stunned the MMA world during an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s show, revealing that he would be returning to the cage—but this time under the newly formed GFL promotion to face Dillon Danis.
They scheduled the fight for May. This upcoming bout presents a potential path to the UFC for ‘El Jefe’. The 31-year-old admitted during the same interview that he had hoped to enter the UFC in 2024, but despite no immediate response from Dana White, UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard showed interest after witnessing the “pop” the crowd gave him. However, according to Dillon Danis, UFC’s Hunter Campbell dampened those hopes by pointing out his “troublesome and controversial” personality. Campbell reportedly told Dillon Danis that he needed to prove himself in MMA first. “So it came down to [them saying]: ‘We want you to fight, to prove you’re an MMA fighter,’” Danis recalled Campbell’s words.
For those closely following the MMA scene, it’s important to note that before facing Tony Ferguson in the cage, ‘Double D’ has a boxing match scheduled for March 29 in Manchester against KSI. They initially set this bout, dubbed “unfinished business,” for October 2023, but delayed it. KSI, however, is not letting the American off the hook. On his X account, KSI warned Danis, saying, “Don’t think people understand what I’m about to do to Danis. His fight with Ferguson will be dead. His UFC dreams will be dead. His career in combat sports will finally be dead.”
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 27: KSI looks on during hius Cruiserweight Main Event Bout against Swarmz at The O2 Arena on August 27, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)
This indirect threat to Dillon Danis also casts a dark cloud over Tony Ferguson’s upcoming GFL fight. For the Oxnard native, this bout is pivotal. Ferguson hasn’t secured an MMA victory since 2020, enduring consecutive losses to Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett. Last year, at UFC on ABC 7, he faced Michael Chiesa, but things didn’t go as expected. ‘El Cucuy’ suffered his eighth straight loss, surpassing BJ Penn’s record and leaving his UFC future in question, with many speculating about his potential retirement from the promotion
Ex-UFC referee urges Tony Ferguson to steer clear of a “giant disaster”
At his peak, 41-year-old Tony Ferguson was feared by many in the MMA world, known for his brutal, blood-soaked bouts that made him a fan favorite. Few fighters had as much blood spilled in the Octagon as ‘El Cucuy’ did over the past decade. However, his career took a drastic turn when he was scheduled to face Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 249. The former interim champ had spent months fine-tuning his wrestling skills for the fight, but everything changed when COVID-19 hit, forcing Khabib to be locked down in Russia.
In his place, Tony Ferguson took on Justin Gaethje on short notice, which led to a devastating loss. Since then, ‘El Cucuy’ has struggled to bounce back, and many, including UFC president Dana White, have urged him to retire. Despite this, Ferguson has remained defiant, hinting at a comeback in January and breaking his hiatus. However, former UFC referee Big John McCarthy doesn’t think it’s a wise move.
On his YouTube podcast, McCarthy issued a stern warning to Tony Ferguson, saying, “Tony took more damage in that one fight than he took in his entire career up to that point.” McCarthy also offered guidance, urging Ferguson to consider a change in direction. “I would love to see Tony take his mentality and all the effort he’s put into the sport and apply it elsewhere—whether it’s training, coaching, or something else. If he does that, he’ll find success. But it’s time for him to stop being the one stepping into the cage to fight,” McCarthy advised.
What’s your opinion about Tony Ferguson’s upcoming fight against Dillon Danis? Do you think he can prove himself in MMA again despite the mounting criticism around his return to GFL? Feel free to share your thoughts below.
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