Former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson returned to the welterweight division on Saturday in Abu Dhabi against Michael Chiesa. Both fighters were needing a win in the worst way.
Ferguson hadn’t won a fight since 2019 and entered the bout on a staggering seven-fight losing streak. Chiesa entered the octagon at Etihad Arena having lost his last three fights.
Ferguson came out pressuring Chiesa. Chiesa moved along the outside. Chiesa delivered a kick to the body followed by a left hand. Ferguson responded with a leg kick. Ferguson continued to press forward. Chiesa landed a combination. Ferguson landed his jab. Chiesa clinched and took Ferguson down. He took Ferguson’s back and worked to lock on a rear-naked choke. Ferguson tried to defend the chock but was forced to tap out.
The loss was Ferguson’s eighth consecutive defeat. The official time of the stoppage came at 3:44 of the first round. Following the fight, Ferguson took off one glove and teased his retirement from fighting.
“I don’t want to retire. I really don’t, but I love the UFC and I don’t want to go anywhere else,” Ferguson said in his post-fight interview. “So I’m not going to put both gloves down. I’m going to put one, and I’m going to keep the other one just in case.”
