Tony Ferguson feels that the MMA media is complicit in the UFC’s mistreatment and overlooking of him regarding world title shots.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a living soul who does not believe that Tony Ferguson should have received a world title shot by now. Though circumstances have often interfered when Ferguson was set to have a title opportunity, it still beggars belief that Ferguson has never received a world title shot after all these years.
Tony Ferguson was scheduled to finally receive his first shot at an undisputed UFC title at UFC 249 against Khabib Nurmagomedov, but with Khabib unable to make the event due to COVID-related traveling restrictions, the card needed a new main event. So Ferguson decided to accept a short-notice fight against Justin Gaethje and, in so doing, get the ball rolling with the first UFC pay-per-view headliner of the COVID era. Ferguson does not regret his decision, even though his loss meant that his title shot would go to Justin Gaethje, but the fact that he has still gone without a title shot still leaves a bitter taste in his mouth.
“I’m a company man. I go through there, and when the company’s in turmoil, you know who you can count on,” Ferguson said in an interview with TSN this week. “Everybody runs away, and they’re saying, ‘Oh, you gotta protect yourself like Conor, and you’ve got (Khabib) running away and this and that. Who shows up? (slaps chest) Where’s my title shot?”
Tony Ferguson has decided that he is now only fighting only for his own best interests after feeling a lack of appreciation from the public, including the MMA media.
“I keep earning my way to victory every single time. You guys have seen it,” Ferguson said. “But nobody speaks up. You guys don’t speak up because you guys are getting paid by Conor. You guys are getting paid by Proper 12 and all those other bullshit. You guys got that fuckin’ facade over your face, man. You guys don’t want to speak up for me and be like, ‘Yo, give Tony the fuckin’ title shot. You guys got umpteenth amount of times to talk to Dana, and y’all ain’t speaking up for me.”
Tony Ferguson will have yet another opportunity to let his actions speak up for him at UFC 256 when he looks to earn a remarkable 15th victory in the promotion. And perhaps this win, when juxtaposed with all he’s sacrificed and earned over the years, would be enough to finally secure him that elusive title shot.
What are your thoughts on Tony Ferguson’s vitriol towards the media for not coming to his defense regarding not receiving a title shot?
