Former Champion Urges Tony Ferguson to Reflect on MMA Career

Former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson urges Tony Ferguson to reflect on his MMA career. Ferguson is currently on a six-fight losing streak, with four of those losses by submission or knockout.

Former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson is pleading with Tony Ferguson to take a long hard look in the mirror before continuing his mixed martial arts career. Ferguson, who is currently on a six-fight losing streak, has faced devastating defeats by submission or knockout in four of those fights.

The losing streak began in 2020 when Ferguson suffered a one-sided defeat at the hands of Justin Gaethje at UFC 249. Since then, he has fallen to Charles Oliveira, Beneil Dariush, Michael Chandler, Nate Diaz, and most recently, Bobby Green. Despite these losses, Ferguson remains adamant that his career is not over, a sentiment that is met with disagreement from fans and fellow fighters.

Josh Thomson, a former Bellator standout, understands the challenges of setbacks in MMA and offers some words of advice for Ferguson. Reflecting on his own experiences, Thomson shares, ‘When I lost two in a row, I had never lost two in a row. I was like, ‘What the hell is going on?’… it baffled the sht outta me. This guy has lost six in a row. This sport, like any sport, is about confidence. That confidence is what gets you to the next fight, makes you push a little harder when you’re behind on the judges’ cards. You need to have a reality check. You have to understand how to reel it in because you’re the only one in charge of your relationships with everyone…I’ve had those conversations with myself a lot because you don’t realize it. I become a little emotional, it’s a little fcked up, but I care about all these fighters’ (h/t MMA News).

Despite not having won a fight in over four years, Tony Ferguson remains a beloved figure among fans. This is likely why the UFC has not cut ties with the former interim world champion. However, a difficult decision regarding his future in the fight game will need to be made by either Ferguson or his employer at some point.

Summary

• Former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson urges Tony Ferguson to reflect on his MMA career.
• Ferguson is currently on a six-fight losing streak, with four of those losses by submission or knockout.
• Thomson shares his own experiences with setbacks in MMA and emphasizes the importance of confidence.
• Despite not winning a fight in over four years, Ferguson remains popular among fans.
• The UFC may need to make a tough decision about Ferguson’s future in the sport.