Tony Ferguson Open To A UFC Return

Tony Ferguson has said he is open to making a return to the UFC. 

Ferguson will box influencer Salt Papi this weekend, his first fight since his UFC departure. Ferguson had been on a difficult run, suffering eight losses on the spin, with his most recent defeat coming at the hands of Michael Chiesa last August. Dana White had stated that this would be Ferguson’s final fight with the promotion, but Ferguson revealed his intent to continue fighting. His prior MMA win came at UFC 238 against Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in 2019. Despite his poor run of form, Ferguson has left the door open for a return. 

“I didn’t get cut from the UFC. We both [shook hands] and we both walked away. When it goes into MMA, the chances present itself, and it does interest me, because I don’t have to do it, I don’t have to do it. We walked away, handshakes, and if that presents itself and it makes sense, yeah, we’re going to do it. But right now the focus is boxing. MMA was one of those ways for me to be able to demonstrate and hone all my talents into one thing,” Ferguson said 

Which Opponents?

The most marketable opponent for Ferguson would be Conor McGregor. While both fighters are on a decline, a bout between them would still be a massive draw. McGregor, who is also looking to return from a long layoff, needs an opponent with eyes on the UFC White House card. McGregor still has two fights left on his UFC deal. While he was scheduled to fight Michael Chandler, the hype around the fight has died down. 

Another compelling option would be a fight against fellow veteran Jim Miller. Miller, who holds the record for most fights and wins in UFC history, is still a respected figure in the lightweight division. A fight against Ferguson would be a clash of two of the most durable and long-serving fighters in UFC history. Both fighters are known for their heart and willingness to engage in a brawl.

A final possibility could be a farewell tour fight against a rising star like Terrance McKinney, who is known for his aggressive and high-risk fighting style. His fights are notoriously short, with him holding a record for one of the fastest knockouts in UFC history, which took just seven seconds against Matt Frevola. Ferguson is a master of weathering storms and pushing the pace into the later rounds, making this an intriguing match-up.