Daniel Cormier doesn’t see Tony Ferguson’s losing streak ending anytime soon should he continue to compete.
UFC 279 provided the MMA world with one of the most unforgettable fight weeks in recent memory. There was plenty to see, from press conferences and weight mishaps to fight changes. On fight night, fans were left with a matchup that’s been a long time coming, seeing Ferguson square off with Nate Diaz.
Unfortunately for Ferguson, he was unable to snap a four-fight skid, succumbing to Diaz via fourth-round guillotine submission. Despite moving up to fight at welterweight for the first time since his promotional debut, it wouldn’t be enough for Ferguson to turn back the clock. Many in the community had Ferguson sitting down at the cage, providing commentary and comment, but Cormier didn’t get the same “El Cucuy”, he was used to.
“I could not believe what I was seeing,” Cormier said on DC & RC. I’m not saying that it was the best fight ever, but by no stretch of imagination. It tells me that Nate Diaz still has a little bit left in the tank if he wants to fight, but it also tells me Tony Ferguson is done as a guy that I’ve seen in the octagon. Tony Ferguson is done, bro. He’s a shell of his self and doesn’t intend to retire. He actually said he feels like he got better, he saw some good things. I’m like what did he do in there to show that he’s better than he was prior?”
Cormier was critical of Ferguson’s willingness to continue fighting following his previous knockout loss to Michael Chandler this past May. Ferguson retaliated against Cormier, launching a series of verbal jabs via social media.
While this is happening, Diaz has officially decided to leave the UFC so he can go about his own business. Diaz was originally scheduled to fight Khamzat Chimaev at the main event. However, last minute weight changes meant that Ferguson lost his opponent. Li Jingliang will now take on Daniel Rodriguez.
Cormier does not know who Ferguson’s promotion would match him with, but this gives him an opportunity to win. If the Li matchup went as expected, Ferguson would feel a worse defeat.
” “That’s the thing that stands out to me most,” Cormier stated. “Like, Nate Diaz can do whatever he wants. For Nate Diaz, not fighting Khamzat was a gift from god. That is literally best-case scenario for him. Tony Ferguson’s decline was not gradual, that is what I find most remarkable about him. It was like he got to the edge of the cliff and just fell off the cliff. It was Justin Gaethje then that was it.
” He wasn’t as great after he finished [was] the interim title fight. Granted, he lost to Beneil Dariush and Charles Oliveira so you go, ‘Well, he’s fighting the best in the world.’ But now we got to see him fight Nate Diaz who’s not the best in the world right now. Nate will tell you he’s the best in the world, but he didn’t do great against Nate.”
TOP STORIES
Results. DWCS Season 6, Week 8: 5 more, including ‘best female knockout’ in DWCS history, headed to UFC
Shade. Dana White blasts ‘f****** stupid’ UFC 279 conspiracy theory, takes shot at Brendan Schaub
Madness. Li Jingliang details backstage melee that led to UFC 279 press conference cancellation: ‘Complete chaos’
Smesh. Robert Whittaker accepts Khamzat Chimaev’s offer to train: ‘We can hunt bad guys together’
$$$. Jake Paul believes Anderson Silva will make the biggest career cash by boxing him
Rankings. Khamzat Chimaev smashes his way into top 20
Trouble. “There is no way that wasn’t intentional”: Title fight ended in controversy following alleged foul play in Canada
Legends. Wanderlei Silva wants to box veterans, but not interested in knocking out an ‘old man’ like Vitor Belfort did
VIDEO STEW
Presser Day 2.
Presser Day 2 staredown.
Presser Day 2 interviews.
UFC 280 trailer.
A Diaz fairytale.
LISTEN UP
Fighter vs. Writer. MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin talks to Tyron Woodley.
Heck of a Morning. MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck chats with Tanner Boser and discusses what’s next for Khamzat Chimaev after UFC 279.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
No nonsense.
Don’t complicate life, we won’t be here forever. Once this day is over, it’s gone forever. Your time is to valuable to waste on nonsense. pic.twitter.com/zNJDDKYxU1
— Diana Belbita (@DianaBelbita) September 13, 2022
Bully breakdown.
Bully breakdown pic.twitter.com/0Um2fA9jUX
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) September 13, 2022
Leech love.
Wooow the universe hates Li Jingliang… what a shit week for such a good dude.
— Chris Curtis The Action Man (@Actionman513) September 13, 2022
Throwback.
Cody Garbrandt and Song Yadong sparring 3 years ago. pic.twitter.com/bPt1QRwQkW
— Feno (Ninja) (@fenoxsky) September 13, 2022
Sniper in and out of the cage.
Today was a glorious hunt pic.twitter.com/OFouAxESNc
— Shavkat “Nomad” Rakhmonov (@Rakhmonov1994) September 13, 2022
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sodiq Yusuff (12-2) vs. Don Shainis (13-3); UFC Vegas 61, Oct. 1
Julio Arce (18-5) vs. Montel Jackson (11-2); UFC 281, Nov. 12
Jared Cannonier (15-6) vs. Sean Strickland (24-5); UFC Fight Night, Dec. 17
FINAL THOUGHTS
If Ferguson wasn’t stuck between two really tough divisions, I may be inclined to disagree with DC here. I thought he actually did better against Diaz than most did, but it was still an incredibly telling performance of where he now stands.
Thank you for reading!
EXIT POLL
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