Tony Ferguson isn’t accomplished simply but.
The previous UFC interim light-weight champion seems able to resume his profession in 2025 after teasing his return to motion in a brand new put up on social media. Ferguson, 40, final fought this previous August when he suffered a submission loss to Michael Chiesa on the UFC Struggle Night time occasion in Abu Dhabi, which marked his eighth straight defeat within the octagon.
“Utterly destroyed myself to reinvent it,” Ferguson wrote on Instagram. “As an artist, I goal to point out one thing you’ve by no means seen earlier than. Completely satisfied New 12 months crew. 2025 in my sights
“Keep tuned and watch the magic unfold. New missions acknowledged. Struggle information coming quickly.”
Ferguson didn’t tackle the place he could be preventing, though it appeared his run with the UFC got here to an finish following that loss to Chiesa. He briefly contemplated retirement after that loss however then remained steadfast in his need to compete once more simply a few months later.
“F*ck no I’m not retiring,” Ferguson mentioned this previous October. “I’m too previous to retire. I’m 40 years previous. I’m midway to 80, I’ve been competing since I used to be 5 years previous in a number of sports activities. I wrestled in school, I’ve accomplished all the opposite stuff, and you realize what? It’s not like I don’t know the rest. I do. I’m nonetheless capable of compete. When any person is ready to run or dash quicker than me then perhaps I’ll begin to take into account it.
“However what I actually need is to search out that teaching, that self-discipline round different individuals, being uncomfortable in observe in order that means you’re not depressing within the combat… That’s the place we’re at proper now.”
At his peak, Ferguson was thought of one of many prime two lightweights within the sport alongside former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. These two have been scheduled to face one another a number of occasions through the years however sadly one catastrophe or one other prevented them from ever truly assembly within the cage.
Nurmagomedov finally retired from the game however Ferguson by no means slowed down with eight fights over the previous 4 years, which included matchups towards opponents similar to Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler.
Whereas the UFC might not be an possibility, Ferguson may nonetheless land with any variety of promotions together with PFL, BKFC and even the upstart World Struggle League, which has been signing veteran fighters left and proper with plans to launch a team-based MMA promotion in 2025.
With a 25-11 document general, Ferguson clearly hopes to show issues round in his profession when he fights once more with all indicators pointing in direction of his return someday within the New 12 months.
