UFC 209: Tyron Woodley vs. Stephen Thompson 2Mar 3, 2017 by FloCombat Staff
Tony Ferguson Eager To Hold UFC Lightweight Torch: 'Hard Work Got Me Here'
Tony Ferguson Eager To Hold UFC Lightweight Torch: 'Hard Work Got Me Here'
UFC lightweight Tony Ferguson talks possibility of moving weight classes, says lightweight torch will be in good hands after UFC 209.
Tony Ferguson never doubts his abilities. He knows where he's from, and he views his UFC 209 co-main event against Khabib Nurmagomedov as the next step on his journey to becoming both the best fighter in the UFC's stacked lightweight division and the best version of himself.
Speaking to FloCombat during the UFC 209 media day, Ferguson mentioned his current form could potentially reign over multiple weight classes.
"I could make 145, yes," Ferguson said. "I won The Ultimate Fighter at 170. I have the same frame as Daniel Cormier except he's got a little bit bigger belly. I have the same frame and I have a great strength and conditioning coach, and I could put on 15 pounds of muscle, no problem.
Inside The Ultimate Fighter house, it was great. I was eating bacon, eggs, pancakes, and these guys were like, 'How is this guy making weight? I don't understand it.' It was because of my metabolism, baby, and that's from the strong core, and that's from a lot of the wrestling drills, football drills, baseball, and everything in between that I've done since I was growing up."
While his body is capable, Ferguson was quick to add he's in no rush to skip around weight classes, as he feels both featherweight and welterweight have—or will have—worthy champions at the wheel.
"This [the interim title fight at UFC 209] is my experience that I have right now," Ferguson said. "[At] 145, Max Holloway holds the torch. He's a good guy, got a pair of wings on his back. I love that dude. [At] 170, I know [Stephen] Thompson's gonna win. He's gonna hold that torch. So there's absolutely no reason for me to jump down or jump up. Because the torch is going to be in great hands. Same thing at 155. Once I win this, the torch will be in my hands, and that'll be great too."
Ferguson then shed light onto his character and how he climbed the ranks to his current position. Acknowledging that his wrestling background helped make him who he is, Ferguson said he draws on that experience but never loses sight of how he reached his present point.
"I don't have a flag [to show my allegiance to the wrestling community], I have a tattoo on my leg," he said. "But I don't need a tattoo to show me who I am. I am who I am because I work hard and because I've taken my points, I've taken my bows. I've used my face as a hand mitt once in a while. Hard work got me here, and doubt never did, man."
Speaking to FloCombat during the UFC 209 media day, Ferguson mentioned his current form could potentially reign over multiple weight classes.
"I could make 145, yes," Ferguson said. "I won The Ultimate Fighter at 170. I have the same frame as Daniel Cormier except he's got a little bit bigger belly. I have the same frame and I have a great strength and conditioning coach, and I could put on 15 pounds of muscle, no problem.
Inside The Ultimate Fighter house, it was great. I was eating bacon, eggs, pancakes, and these guys were like, 'How is this guy making weight? I don't understand it.' It was because of my metabolism, baby, and that's from the strong core, and that's from a lot of the wrestling drills, football drills, baseball, and everything in between that I've done since I was growing up."
While his body is capable, Ferguson was quick to add he's in no rush to skip around weight classes, as he feels both featherweight and welterweight have—or will have—worthy champions at the wheel.
"This [the interim title fight at UFC 209] is my experience that I have right now," Ferguson said. "[At] 145, Max Holloway holds the torch. He's a good guy, got a pair of wings on his back. I love that dude. [At] 170, I know [Stephen] Thompson's gonna win. He's gonna hold that torch. So there's absolutely no reason for me to jump down or jump up. Because the torch is going to be in great hands. Same thing at 155. Once I win this, the torch will be in my hands, and that'll be great too."
Ferguson then shed light onto his character and how he climbed the ranks to his current position. Acknowledging that his wrestling background helped make him who he is, Ferguson said he draws on that experience but never loses sight of how he reached his present point.
"I don't have a flag [to show my allegiance to the wrestling community], I have a tattoo on my leg," he said. "But I don't need a tattoo to show me who I am. I am who I am because I work hard and because I've taken my points, I've taken my bows. I've used my face as a hand mitt once in a while. Hard work got me here, and doubt never did, man."