Tony Ferguson earned his nickname ‘El Cucuy’ by terrorizing the UFC’s lightweight division! From 2013 to 2019, Ferguson went on a 12-fight win streak that saw him defeat notable names like Rafael Dos Anjos, Anthony Pettis, and Donald Cerrone. During this streak, Ferguson also claimed the UFC lightweight interim title at UFC 216 against Kevin Lee. However, his days of leaving his opponents bloodied seem to be behind him as he is currently on a 6 fight-losing streak that began with his stoppage loss against Justin Gaethje at UFC 249 in 2020.

Despite the setbacks and fans’ concern that ‘El Cucuy’ might be past his prime, Ferguson has now revealed that the reason behind his losses is Khabib Nurmagomedov! In an interview with ESPN MMA ahead of his clash against Paddy Pimblett at UFC 296, Ferguson broke down how he planned to “lure” Nurmagomedov into accepting a fight against him. And his statements reveal an interesting glimpse into the mind of one of the most intriguing personalities in MMA!

Tony Ferguson reveals his plan to entice Khabib Nurmagomedov for a fight

The proposed clash between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson remains one of the biggest ‘what ifs’ in UFC history. Both men were scheduled to fight against each other multiple times, but none of the matchups ever led to them facing off against each other in the cage.

In his recent interview with ESPN MMA, Ferguson revealed how his aspirations to fight Nurmagomedov may have led to his extended losing streak in the UFC. Ferguson admitted to deliberately downplaying his skills in the past, particularly during the pandemic when training for Charles Oliveira.

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He revealed he practiced jiu-jitsu only half the time, aiming to appear less formidable to entice Khabib Nurmagomedov. Ferguson stated, “…during the pandemic with Oliveira, I didn’t practice, I practiced jiu-jitsu like half the time. I just took all these opportunities just to stay competitive, to get Khabib, lure him in, so he would think that I wasn’t this tough.”

Ferguson referred to this strategy as “sandbagging” and claimed he had employed it for nearly 20 fights, giving his opponents a false sense of his capabilities. Despite criticisms of being washed up, Ferguson asserted that “…everybody calls me washed up, I’m like, yeah, damn f*king straight, I’m cleaned up b*tch. Washed up to me means, I just, I shed everything…”

In conclusion, Ferguson appears to have done everything he could to make the Nurmagomedov fight happen, which seemingly includes his multiple-fight losing streak. And disregarding criticisms of his recent performances, he is ready to take on Paddy Pimblett at UFC 296, despite questions being raised about his choice of training methods during his fight camp!

Ferguson claims he “needed” to go through ‘Hell Week’

Tony Ferguson is determined to break a six-fight losing streak by any means necessary. As such, the UFC veteran and “Boogeyman” of the promotion has sought mental fortification by working with former Navy SEAL, David Goggins. He is scheduled to face Paddy Pimblett at UFC 296, and so Ferguson turned to Goggins for a mental boost. The fighter underwent grueling cardio sessions, including Goggins’ challenging “Hell Week.”

In a conversation with MMA Junkie, Ferguson emphasized the toughness of the training, describing it as “hard as f*ck” but also expressed satisfaction with the ordeal. In an honest confession, he stated, “I needed it, I really did. I haven’t had somebody push me like that and not float my balloon any higher than it needed to be…I needed to go through that f*cking Hell Week.”

His statements indicate that Ferguson has seemingly addressed the criticisms he has received for his performances in the past. And as UFC 296 approaches, Ferguson’s mental rejuvenation and commitment to pushing his limits add an intriguing dimension to his lightweight bout against the British star. Therefore, his fans will be looking to see if the grueling training has indeed, paid dividends. 

Paddy Pimblett Gives away Gameplan of Assaulting Tony Ferguson With Combos in Major Confession Before UFC 296 – “Hitting Pads”

Do you think Tony Ferguson will be able to finally snap his losing streak against the rising star from the UK, Paddy Pimblett? Why or Why not? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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