Tony Ferguson's departure from the UFC marked the end of a long and tumultuous chapter in his career, a period filled with both remarkable highs and devastating lows. After nearly 14 years in the Octagon, Ferguson's release was undoubtedly emotional.
His UFC journey began triumphantly, winning Season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2011 and eventually capturing the interim lightweight championship. However, his later years in the promotion were marred by a historic eight-fight losing streak, culminating in a submission loss to Michael Chiesa at UFC on ABC 7.
Despite the painful conclusion, Ferguson expressed a sense of acceptance and even relief. He framed his UFC experience as a valuable learning opportunity, emphasizing personal growth and future planning.
While he has found peace with his UFC exit, lingering bitterness remains, particularly regarding the circumstances surrounding his interim title. He felt deeply wronged by the UFC’s decision to strip him of the belt after a freak knee injury forced him to withdraw from his scheduled title fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 223.
When I left the UFC, everything was – I hate to say it because I wanted to fight another time – but obviously, even me, I had to be like, ‘I have to excuse myself guys, I don’t want to leave on bad terms,'” Tony Ferguson said on The Ariel Helwani Show. “So, talking to Dana [White], talking to Hunter [Campbell], and coming to terms with it, it was like we all agreed that it was in the best interest for me to move on, and honestly, it was awesome.
I have to tell you, I packed up all my UFC stuff, I put it into bags, and it was the hardest f*cking thing I had to do. It was a couple of days where it took time for me to be able to adjust. I put everything in big storage bags, and I was ready to move on. I went into The Ultimate Fighter with the purpose of winning a fat check so I can help my family out, my grandma and everything, and I ended up getting a contract. So, this whole entire process has never been a disappointment, but what it has been is a learning experience of how, one, about how I go about my business. Two, about how I treat my close circle. Three, about how I want to plan for the future.
Tony Ferguson has wasted no time in moving forward, signing with the Global Fight League and announcing a bout against Dillon Danis.