Tony Ferguson’s top 5 finishes

Former Interim UFC Lightweight Champion Tony Ferguson – who is on a 12-fight unbeaten streak – boasts an impressive finishing rate of almost 80% from his 25 professional fights. Out of the 25 bouts, the American has won 12 by knockout, eight by submission and five by decision, whilst he has lost just three times – once by submission and twice by decision.

The 36-year-old was supposed go toe-to-toe with Justin Gaethjeat UFC 249 on April 18^thafter Russian KhabibNurmagomedovhad to pull out due to complications with the worldwide Coronavirus outbreak – postponing a bout between the pair for the whopping fifth time! However, a fight with ‘The Highlighter’ – which Ferguson was favorite to win in the MMA odds – was also put on hold due to concerns surrounding the virus. So, with a future bouts suspended indefinitely, let’s take a look at Ferguson’s top-five finishes.

1. Abel Trujillo – UFC 181 – Submission

‘El Cucuy’ – who was heavily backed in the latest UFC betting tips – went head-to-head with Abel Trujillo at the Mandalay Bay Events Centre in Las Vegas at UFC 181 in December 2014. It was Ferguson’s eighth fight in the UFC and his 20^th professional bout, whilst Trujillo stepped in to replace the injured Yancy Medeiros. The California-based fighter showed off a much-improved ground game and, after grappling on the mat, Ferguson finished the ‘Killa’ with a rear naked choke towards the end of the second round. The American also took home the Performance of the Night bonus.

2. Mike Rio – UFC 166 – Submission

A bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Ferguson was rescheduled from UFC 164. However, the Russian was unable to fight and was replaced by Mike Rio. The bout, which took place at the Toyota Centre in Texas, was just ‘El Cucuy’s’ fifth in the UFC, and it was on the back of his third career defeat to Michael Johnson. ‘The Wolverine’ attempted to take Ferguson down early in the first round, although his efforts didn’t pay off. ‘El Cucuy’ countered and won via a D’Arce choke.

3. Ramsey Nijem – Ultimate Fighter Finale – KO

Ferguson’s UFC debut was at The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale at the Palms Casino Resort, Vegas in 2011, and he didn’t disappoint. ‘El Cucuy’ was on Team Lesnar and won the welterweight tournament by knocking out Ramsey Nijem and, in the process, earned himself a UFC contract. Ferguson wore Nijem down with several big punches in the first round, before flooring him with a left hook, and planting a right hand whilst on the ground – the referee ended the bout with just over a minute left of the opening round.

4. Kevin Lee – UFC 216 – Submission

Two-time UFC Heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic and Cain Velasquez were supposed to headline UFC 216 at the T-Mobile Arena in ‘Sin City.’ However, after the Heavyweight bout failed to materialise, a Lightweight fight for the interim belt between Ferguson and Kevin Lee was announced as the main event. ‘El Cucuy’ put in a dominating, aggressive performance, and ‘The Mowtown Phenom’ failed, on the most part, to put up with his relentless pressure. In the third round, Lee narrowly avoided an armbar, although he couldn’t escape being put in a triangle choke – which ended his night and awarded Ferguson the interim belt.

5. KatsunoriKikuno – UFC 173 – KO

Ferguson went head-to-head with KatsunoriKikuno on the preliminary card of UFC 173 – which was headlined by a Bantamweight bout between T.J Dillashaw and RenenBarão at Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. It was just Ferguson’s sixth bout in the UFC, and the experts predicted a dominating performance from his Japanese opponent. However, ‘El Cucuy’ proved his doubters wrong, knocking Kikuno out in the first round with a deadly right-hand.