LAS VEGAS – Like many, Dana White thinks it’s time for Tony Ferguson to retire from MMA.
“I would love to see Tony retire,” White told reporters at the UFC 296-post-fight press conference.
The UFC CEO wants to see Ferguson hang up the gloves after his most recent defeat in the octagon. The 39-year-old returned to the cage Saturday on the main card of UFC 296, the promotion’s final event of the year, but lost a clear unanimous decision to rising star Paddy Pimblett.
The loss to Pimblett (21-3 MMA, 5-0 UFC) marked the seventh consecutive defeat for Ferguson (25-10 MMA, 15-8 UFC), a former interim lightweight champion.
“When you talk about a skid, you look at the guys he fought, too,” White said. “That plays a factor into it, and how did he look right up until he lost? Tonight, Tony looked like he should retire.”
Ferguson hasn’t won a fight since June 2019, when he defeated Donald Cerrone. After that victory, Ferguson was viciously beaten by Justin Gaethje in a UFC interim lightweight title fight that headlined UFC 249. The loss sparked his current losing skid, which includes defeats to Charles Oliveira, Beneil Driush, Michael Chandler, Nate Diaz, Bobby Green and now Pimblett.
Prior to the skid, Ferguson was on a historic 12-fight winning streak and was ranked as one of the world’s best lightweights.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 296.
