Under Maintenance

We deeply apologize for interrupting your reading but Vendetta is currently undergoing some important maintenance! You may experience some layout shifts, slow loading times and dififculties in navigating.

Sports Media

Dana White Wants Tony Ferguson To Retire

Tony Ferguson
UFC CEO Dana White wants to see lightweight Tony Ferguson retire after UFC 296. The 39-year-old has lost seven consecutive fights. (Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)

Dana White Wants Tony Ferguson To Retire

Tony Ferguson is a legend of MMA, but he has hit rough times at the twilight of his career. At UFC 296, ‘El Cucuy’ tied a UFC record with his seventh consecutive loss. In the aftermath of the bout, UFC CEO Dana White brought up the word that no undefeated fighter wants to hear: Retirement.

White discussed Ferguson’s future at his UFC 296 post-fight press conference. All quotes via TheScore.

“I would love to see Tony retire,” White said at the post-fight press conference.

Ferguson was not competitive in his UFC 296 bout against Paddy Pimblett. In the first round, he was nearly finished with strikes. In the second and third rounds, Ferguson was takedown and controlled, which resulted in Pimblett getting a one-sided decision win.

This bout against Pimblett did not look good for Ferguson. The former lightweight interim champion did not react to shots well. That is never a good sign for a professional cage fighter.

White explained his logic behind the decision. The main factor was the eye test. It was less about how many fights he has lost, rather, it was about how he looked in the octagon.

“When you talk about a skid, you look at the guys he fought, too,” White added. “That plays a factor into it. And how did he look right up until he lost? Tony, tonight, looked like he should retire.”

Ferguson had a historic run in his prime; it’s not common for a lightweight to win 12 consecutive fights. However, one day he hit a wall and simply failed to win fights.

Ferguson currently sits with two very different records. On the positive side, he is tied with Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev for the longest win streaks in the UFC lightweight division; on the negative side, he is tied with B.J. Penn for the most consecutive losses in UFC history.

***

CLICK HERE for more of our UFC/MMA content

Check out the Vendetta Shop

Subscribe to Vendetta’s YouTube

Popular Past Stories

recommended stories

Rockets Warriors

2024-25 Western Conference First-Round Preview: No. 7 Golden State Warriors v. No. 2 Houston Rockets

2024-25 Western Conference First-Round Preview: No. 7 Golden State Warriors v. No. 2 Houston Rockets The 2024-25 NBA postseason is…

Read More
Jabbar Muhammad

Jabbar Muhammad 2025 NFL Draft Profile

Jabbar Muhammad 2025 NFL Draft Profile We’re getting deep into the cornerback class with the 2025 NFL Draft profile series.…

Read More
Heat Cavaliers

2024-25 Eastern Conference First-Round Preview: No. 8 Miami Heat v. No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers

2024-25 Eastern Conference First-Round Preview: No. 8 Miami Heat v. No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers The 2024-25 NBA playoffs are officially!…

Read More
Caleb Ransaw

Caleb Ransaw 2025 NFL Draft Profile

Caleb Ransaw 2025 NFL Draft Profile Happy Easter. The 2025 NFL Draft profile series doesn’t stop just because it’s a…

Read More