UFC needs to show Tony Ferguson ‘tough love,’ let him go

Chael Sonnen is urging Tony Ferguson to retire.

Ferguson (25-11 MMA, 15-9 UFC) lost a UFC record eighth consecutive fight when he was submitted by Michael Chiesa this past Saturday at UFC on ABC 7. Afterward, Ferguson semi-retired when he laid down one glove in the octagon but quickly changed his mind in the post-fight news conference. Ferguson hopes he can remain in the UFC, but Sonnen doesn’t think he has the fight left in him.

“At some point, we’re going to have to have some real tough love for Tony here,” Sonnen said on “Good Guy/Bad Guy” alongside Daniel Cormier. “He just set a record, a record for the most (consecutive) losses in UFC history. I don’t have a problem with a guy slowing down. I don’t have a problem with the old adage about father time comes for us all. I got a big problem with him getting taken down, getting his back taken, which is what you learn the very first day of jiu-jitsu, and not hand fighting. … The fact that Tony’s in there almost like he’s working with him, like he’s making a technique video or something for the rear-naked choke, that’s a problem for me.

“Taking one glove off was kind of cool until I heard why he’s doing it – because he wants another fight and isn’t sure the UFC’s going to give it to him. Well, let me help you out there. I’m real sure the UFC’s not going to give it to you. I’m a little bit surprised with the disconnect of mental awareness for what was going on or even being handed a microphone that you don’t deserve and only got because you’re going to retire. Then you pull the retirement back and don’t shine up Chiesa, who gave you the microphone in the first place. It was a real bit of a double cross, frankly.”

Sonnen doubts Ferguson will be granted another UFC opportunity and doesn’t personally want to see him there again.

“I am completely confident in telling you there’s not going to be a return,” Sonnen said. “Grappling is what Tony does so well. Tony was a national champion in college wrestling (in junior college), he got his black belt under Eddie Bravo, he’s just a fantastic guy on the ground. I don’t have a problem with somebody getting caught. I have a problem with the fact he didn’t hand fight.

“I have never seen Tony Ferguson give up. I have given up, I know what it looks like. I’m not confident that that’s what he did. It seemed like there was some very basic awareness of very basic steps that weren’t being done in conjunction with an interview that I could give a pass to a guy  that hadjust been knocked out. It wasn’t like that. This needs to stop. It’s not fun anymore. I’m not enjoying it anymore as a fan.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.