Tony Ferguson insists he's not retiring in social media statement

20/12/2023 20:00

Tony Ferguson | Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Tony Ferguson still wants to fight.

"El Cucuy" suffered a seventh straight loss at UFC 296 this past Saturday, dropping a unanimous decision to Paddy Pimblett in a bout that saw Ferguson show few flashes of his former greatness. He is now tied with B.J. Penn for the longest losing streak in UFC history.

On Wednesday, Ferguson posted on social media that despite his recent slump, he does not have plans to retire.

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The caption is a re-posting of a message Ferguson posted in an Instagram Story, with the notable addition of a hashtag reading #NotRetiringCasuals. Ferguson, 39, has frequently bristled against the suggestion that he hang up the gloves when the topic is brought up in interviews or on social media.

Pimblett praised Ferguson after their fight, calling the 35-fight veteran a legend and agreeing that if Ferguson wants to continue to fight he should do so. UFC CEO Dana White had a more negative response to Ferguson's latest loss, telling reporters that "I would love to see him retire."

In his prime, Ferguson was one of the most dangerous fighters in the lightweight division, rattling off 12 consecutive victories at one point. He claimed an interim title with a submission of Kevin Lee at UFC 216. However, the past few years have not been kind to Ferguson and he has not won a fight since June 2019.