Anthony Armand "Tony" Ferguson Padilla (born February 12, 1984) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional competitor since 2008, Ferguson was the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 13. In 2017, Ferguson defeated Kevin Lee to become the interim UFC Lightweight Champion
After winning the interim UFC Lightweight Championship in 2017, he set a new record for most consecutive wins in UFC lightweight division history (with 10) and became widely regarded by pundits as one of the best lightweights in the history of the UFC.
Video Tony Ferguson
Early life
Ferguson was born in Oxnard, California, but grew up mainly in Muskegon, Michigan. He is of Mexican heritage. His surname of Ferguson comes from his Scottish American stepfather.
Ferguson was a three-sport athlete at Muskegon Catholic Central High School in football, baseball and wrestling. He was the starting defensive back for the 2002 state football champions and was a three-time All-State selection in wrestling, winning the 152 lbs division in 2002.
After high school, Ferguson enrolled at Central Michigan University before transferring to Grand Valley State University. He also did a stint at Muskegon Community College. He did not complete his degree but had a successful collegiate wrestling career, winning the 2006 National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) national wrestling championship in the 165 lbs division.
Following college, Ferguson moved back to California to be closer to his extended family, working in marketing and sales during the day and picking up shifts as a bartender at night. One night, while working a bar shift, a patron talked to him about his wrestling background and invited him to work with some young mixed martial artists on their wrestling. Shortly after this, he decided to pursue a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) career.
Maps Tony Ferguson
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Ferguson began his professional MMA career fighting in small organizations around California in 2008. Notable matches in his early career include a win over kickboxing champion Joe Schilling and a loss to future WEC fighter Karen Darabedyan.
The Ultimate Fighter
Ferguson applied to compete in the UFC's reality series "The Ultimate Fighter" multiple times. In 2010, he was finally accepted to compete in season 13 of the series after amassing a 10-2 professional record and winning the welterweight championship in PureCombat. He competed as a welterweight on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Lesnar vs. Team dos Santos.
Ferguson was selected as the third pick for Team Lesnar. In his first fight, Ferguson defeated Justin Edwards by knockout in the first round. He next faced Ryan McGillivray in the quarter-finals and won via TKO in the first round. He then faced Chuck O'Neil in the semi-finals and won via TKO in the third round to advance to the final.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Ferguson officially made his UFC debut at The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale against Ramsey Nijem to determine the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 13. Ferguson defeated Nijem via knockout in the first round to win a UFC contract and received the Knockout of the Night bonus.
Following his debut, Ferguson returned to lightweight and faced Aaron Riley on September 24, 2011, at UFC 135. The fight was stopped after the first round after Riley said he had a broken jaw. The fight was declared a TKO victory for Ferguson.
Ferguson then faced MMA veteran Yves Edwards at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale. Ferguson won via unanimous decision.
Ferguson was expected to face Dennis Hallman on May 5, 2012, at UFC on Fox: Diaz vs. Miller. However, Hallman was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Thiago Tavares. Then, Tavares was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Michael Johnson. In the second round, Ferguson fractured his left ulna bone and went on to lose against Johnson via unanimous decision.
After over a year away from competition while healing his arm, Ferguson returned to face Mike Rio on October 19, 2013, at UFC 166. He won via D'Arce choke submission in the first round. The win also earned him his first Submission of the Night award.
Ferguson faced Katsunori Kikuno on May 24, 2014, at UFC 173. He won the fight via knockout in the first round.
Ferguson was expected to face Danny Castillo on August 2, 2014, at UFC 176. However, after UFC 176 was cancelled, Castillo/Ferguson was rescheduled and took place on August 30, 2014, at UFC 177. Ferguson won the fight via split decision.
Ferguson faced Abel Trujillo on December 6, 2014, at UFC 181. Ferguson won the bout in the second round via submission.
Ferguson was expected to face Yancy Medeiros on February 28, 2015, at UFC 184. However, Medeiros pulled out of the bout citing injury and was replaced by Gleison Tibau. Ferguson won the fight by submission in the first round which also earned him a Performance of the Night bonus.
Ferguson faced Josh Thomson on July 15, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 71. He won the fight via unanimous decision and earned his second straight Performance of the Night bonus.
Ferguson was expected to face Khabib Nurmagomedov on December 11, 2015, at The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale. However, Nurmagomedov pulled out of the fight in late October, citing injury, and was replaced by Edson Barboza. After a back-and-forth first round that saw Ferguson docked one point due to an illegal upkick, Ferguson finished Barboza with a D'Arce choke submission in the second round. He earned his third consecutive Performance of the Night bonus as well as a Fight of the Night bonus.
A rematch with Michael Johnson was briefly scheduled for March 5, 2016, at UFC 196. However, on January 27, it was announced that Johnson withdrew from the bout due to injury. In turn, the bout with Nurmagomedov was rescheduled and expected take place on April 16, 2016, at UFC on Fox 19. On April 5, Ferguson pulled out of the bout due to a lung issue. He was replaced by promotional newcomer Darrell Horcher.
Ferguson was expected to face Michael Chiesa on July 13, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 91. However, Chiesa pulled out of the fight on June 27 citing injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Lando Vannata. Ferguson won his second straight fight via D'Arce choke and was awarded another Fight of the Night bonus.
Ferguson fought former champion Rafael dos Anjos on November 5, 2016, at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Both participants were awarded Fight of the Night which gave Ferguson his sixth post-fight bonus in his past five fights. The win also set a record for most consecutive wins in UFC lightweight division history with nine.
The pairing with Nurmagomedov was scheduled for a third time at UFC 209, this time for the interim UFC Lightweight Championship. However, prior to the weigh-ins for the event, Nurmagomedov was hospitalized due to the ill-effects of his weight cut, and the bout was cancelled yet again.
Ferguson faced Kevin Lee on October 7, 2017, at UFC 216 for the interim UFC Lightweight Championship. He won the bout via triangle choke submission in the third round. The win also extended his UFC record with ten straight victories in the lightweight division.
A bout with Nurmagomedov had been scheduled for the fourth time on April 7, 2018, at UFC 223. However, on April 1, 2018, it was reported that Ferguson tore his fibular collateral ligament and was forced to withdraw from the event.
Personal life
Ferguson is married and has a son, Armand Anthony, born April 28, 2016.
Championships and accomplishments
Amateur wrestling
- National Collegiate Wrestling Association
- NCWA National Champion (2006)
- NCWA All-American (2006, 2007)
- North Central Conference Champion (2006, 2007)
- Michigan High School Athletic Association
- MHSAA Division IV State Champion (2002)
- MHSAA Division IV All-State (2000-2002)
Mixed martial arts
- PureCombat
- PureCombat Welterweight Championship (One time)
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Interim UFC Lightweight Championship (One time)
- The Ultimate Fighter 13 winner
- Fight of the Night (Three times)
- Knockout of the Night (One time)
- Performance of the Night (Three times)
- Submission of the Night (One time)
- Longest winning streak in lightweight division history (Ten)
Mixed martial arts record
Mixed martial arts exhibition record
See also
- List of current UFC fighters
- List of male mixed martial artists
References
External links
- Professional MMA record for Tony Ferguson from Sherdog
- "Tony Ferguson". UFC.com.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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