Tony ‘El Cucuy‘ Ferguson ran riots in the UFC lightweight division, with just one defeat in 9 years. However, his graph since 2019 reveals a tragic downfall of epic proportions. He has yet to win a fight since 2019. With that motivation, El Cucuy vows to suffocate his upcoming opponent, Michael ‘The Maverick’ Chiesa.
Chiesa is favored over the former interim lightweight champion in the upcoming match. Nevertheless, Ferguson is completely disregarding the odds. During a recent interview with Hosheh MMA, El Cucuy delivered a message to Chiesa. Even though he’s on a losing streak, Ferguson remains convinced he can outperform the Maverick on Saturday.
I‘m going to out work you (Michael Chiesa), I‘m gonna punch you, you‘re gonna shoot in I‘m gonna choke you out… I‘m not gonna give you any time to breathe and I hope your conditioning is really good.
Tony Ferguson via Hosheh MMA
Ferguson’s exceptional conditioning has been a point of emphasis recently. He revealed participating in an intense training regimen of 120 rounds of sparring in preparation for his upcoming fight. This rigorous training may contribute to EL Cucuy’s high confidence level. Interestingly, Ferguson has been absent from the octagon since his unanimous decision loss to Paddy Pimblett in December 2023.
Tony Ferguson sends a message to Michael Chiesa 👀
“I’m going to out work you, I’m gonna punch you, you’re gonna shoot in I’m gonna choke you out…
I’m not gonna give you any time to breathe and I hope your conditioning is really good.”
🎥 @HoshehMma #UFCAbuDhabi #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/k1dsOC1e57
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 31, 2024
After that defeat, Ferguson’s losing streak extended to seven, with previous losses to fighters such as Michael Chandler and Nate Diaz. Following this string of losses, there were suggestions for Ferguson to consider retiring from the sport. Meanwhile, Chiesa cautiously approached his upcoming bout against the 40-year-old Ferguson. He is even considering the potential damage his experienced opponent can deliver.
Michael Chiesa talks about the threat that Tony Ferguson possesses
Michael Chiesa is heading into this Saturday’s matchup in a similar situation to El Cucuy. Chiesa has endured three consecutive losses, with his most recent defeat being a submission loss to Kevin Holland a year ago. Before this rough patch, Chiesa had found success in the welterweight division, securing four consecutive victories over Carlos Condit, Diego Sanchez, Rafael dos Anjos, and Neil Magny.
Michael Chiesa (L) and Tony Ferguson (R) (via Instagram)However, Chiesa is not underestimating Ferguson as they compete on UFC on ABC 7, scheduled for August 3 at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Despite Ferguson’s recent challenges, Chiesa acknowledges that “El Cucuy” remains a formidable opponent. In a recent interview leading up to their fight, Chiesa provided insights into his upcoming fight this weekend.
I don’t care what anybody says. Tony Ferguson is a very, very dangerous fight in any stage of his career, whether it’s his first fight or his last fight, he is a dangerous opponent, so I have to be mentally sharp. In my time away, I addressed the biggest parts of my game that needed to be addressed and that was my mentality..
Michael Chiesa via UFC
“Tony Ferguson is a very dangerous fight in any stage of his career.”
Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) feels prepared to take on the most dangerous version of Tony Ferguson at #UFCAbuDhabi ‼️
— UFC News (@UFCNews) July 31, 2024
The stakes are high for both fighters. The winner will overcome their unwanted losing streak and progress better at the promotion. However, now it remains to be seen who would emerge victor in the highly anticipated welterweight bout.
