Tony Ferguson isn’t achieved simply but.
The previous UFC interim light-weight champion seems able to resume his profession in 2025 after teasing his return to motion in a brand new publish on social media. Ferguson, 40, final fought this previous August when he suffered a submission loss to Michael Chiesa on the UFC Combat Night time occasion in Abu Dhabi, which marked his eighth straight defeat within the octagon.
“Utterly destroyed myself to reinvent it,” Ferguson wrote on Instagram. “As an artist, I intention to indicate one thing you’ve by no means seen earlier than. Comfortable New 12 months crew. 2025 in my sights
“Keep tuned and watch the magic unfold. New missions acknowledged. Combat information coming quickly.”
Ferguson didn’t tackle the place he can be combating, though it appeared his run with the UFC got here to an finish following that loss to Chiesa. He briefly contemplated retirement after that loss however then remained steadfast in his need to compete once more simply a few months later.
“F*ck no I’m not retiring,” Ferguson stated this previous October. “I’m too outdated to retire. I’m 40 years outdated. I’m midway to 80, I’ve been competing since I used to be 5 years outdated in a number of sports activities. I wrestled in school, I’ve achieved all the opposite stuff, and you already know what? It’s not like I don’t know anything. I do. I’m nonetheless capable of compete. When any individual is ready to run or dash sooner than me then perhaps I’ll begin to take into account it.
“However what I actually need is to seek out that teaching, that self-discipline round different individuals, being uncomfortable in follow in order that means you’re not depressing within the combat… That’s the place we’re at proper now.”
At his peak, Ferguson was thought of one of many high two lightweights within the sport alongside former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. These two had been scheduled to face one another a number of instances through the years however sadly one catastrophe or one other prevented them from ever truly assembly within the cage.
Nurmagomedov finally retired from the game however Ferguson by no means slowed down with eight fights over the previous 4 years, which included matchups in opposition to opponents equivalent to Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler.
Whereas the UFC is probably not an possibility, Ferguson might nonetheless land with any variety of promotions together with PFL, BKFC and even the upstart World Combat League, which has been signing veteran fighters left and proper with plans to launch a team-based MMA promotion in 2025.
With a 25-11 document general, Ferguson clearly hopes to show issues round in his profession when he fights once more with all indicators pointing in the direction of his return someday within the New 12 months.