Tony Ferguson says he wasn't at his best going into UFC 296, where he clashed with Paddy Pimblett.
The former interim champion revealed that he'd suffered an MCL tear a month away from his scheduled meeting with “The Baddy.”
“F*cked my sh*t up during a practice [session,] MCL tear,” Ferguson wrote on social media. “I kept it to myself and put it behind me ‘til after the fight. I trained like no one knew, sh*t hurt so good. Three weeks before fight time I told a few of my crew. Nothing changed.
“I recently took care of [my MCL] and had surgery last Thursday one week after my elbow/arm surgery [both arthroscopies]. Thought I would get them both done and double down. Got it over with so I can do what I do best. Beyond rage is an understatement. I feel no despair, just repair.”
Despite the setback, “El Cucuy” (25-10) elected to keep the injury under wraps and compete on the Dec. 16 pay-per-view event, ultimately recording a unanimous decision loss at the hands of the Liverpool native.
Ferguson is now tied with B.J. Penn for the most consecutive losses in the promotion (7). Considering his recent form, fans and well-wishers, including UFC CEO Dana White, have opined that the American should hang up his gloves. However, the 39-year-old insists he is far from contemplating retirement and is eager to return to action after successfully addressing his injuries.
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