Tony Ferguson

Anthony Armand "Tony" Ferguson (born February 12, 1984) is an American professional mixed martial artist competing in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional competitor since 2008, Ferguson was the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 13. In 2017, Ferguson defeated Kevin Lee to become the interim UFC Lightweight Champion

After winning the interim UFC Lightweight Championship in 2017, he set a new record for most consecutive wins in UFC lightweight division history with 10 and became widely regarded by pundits as one of the best lightweights in the history of the UFC.

Early life
Ferguson was born in Oxnard, California but grew up mainly in Muskegon, Michigan. He is of Mexican heritage. His surname of Ferguson comes from his Scottish American stepfather.

Ferguson was a three-sport athlete at Muskegon Catholic Central High School in football, baseball and wrestling. He was the starting defensive back for the 2002 state football champions and was a three-time All-State selection in wrestling, winning the 152 lbs division in 2002.

After high school, Ferguson enrolled at Central Michigan University before transferring to Grand Valley State University. He also did a stint at Muskegon Community College. He did not complete his degree but Ferguson had a successful collegiate wrestling career, winning the 2006 National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) national wrestling championship in the 165 lbs division.

Ferguson moved back to California to be closer to his extended family, working in marketing and sales during the day and picking up shifts as a bartender at night. One night while working a bar tending shift, a patron talked to him about his wrestling background and invited him to work with some young mixed martial artists on their wrestling. Shortly after this, he decided to pursue a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) career.

The Ultimate Fighter
Ferguson had signed with the UFC in 2011 to compete as a welterweight on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Lesnar vs. Team dos Santos.

Ferguson was the third pick of Team Lesnar and the fifth overall. Ferguson was matched up with alternative, Justin Edwards, for his preliminary bout. After a back and forth first round, Edwards was able to take Ferguson down. But while on the ground, Ferguson landed a devastating upkick that knocked out Edwards. With the win, Ferguson moved on to the quarter-finals.

For his quarterfinal fight, Ferguson fought Ryan McGillivray, quickly earning the KO win after catching McGillivray with a short uppercut and following up with ground and pound. The win moved him into the semi-finals where he faced his teammate, Chuck O'Neil.

A night of celebration takes place at the Ultimate fighter house but soon turns ugly when everybody has too much to drink and Ferguson gets in a scuffle with a teammate (Charlie Rader) for pouring water on his head. Ferguson refuses to accept Rader's apology and makes some comments about Rader's kid being taken away from him. Ferguson then keeps mocking Rader by asking "Where's your kid at?". O'Neil then promises Rader to "take his (Ferguson's) dreams away" by beating him in the semi-final. The next morning Ferguson wakes up and apparently has no recollection of the previous night's events, other than getting into a scuffle with Rader. He attempts to apologize to Rader but Rader does not accept his apology.

Ferguson then goes on to fight O'Neil in the final episode and defeats O'Neil via TKO in the third round, sending Tony to the finals to face Ramsey Nijem.

Ultimate Fighting Championship
Ferguson officially made his UFC debut at The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale against Ramsey Nijem to determine the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 13. Ferguson defeated Nijem via knockout in the first round, making him the winner of the Ultimate Fighter Season 13. Ferguson also earned the Knockout of the Night bonus for his finish of Nijem.

Ferguson returned to lightweight when he faced Aaron Riley on September 24, 2011, at UFC 135. While the fight was competitive early, Ferguson landed a strong left uppercut, and Ferguson dominated the remaining two minutes of the round. Immediately after the end of the first round, Riley told his corner that his jaw was broken. The fight was declared a TKO victory for Ferguson.

Ferguson next faced MMA veteran Yves Edwards at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale. Ferguson won via unanimous decision.

Ferguson was expected to face Dennis Hallman on May 5, 2012, at UFC on Fox: Diaz vs. Miller. However, Hallman was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Thiago Tavares. However, Tavares was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Michael Johnson. In the second round, Ferguson fractured his left ulna bone and went on to lose against Johnson via unanimous decision.

After over a year away from competition while healing his arm, Ferguson returned to face Mike Rio on October 19, 2013, at UFC 166. He won via D'arce choke submission in the first round. The win also earned him his first Submission of the Night award.

Ferguson faced Katsunori Kikuno on May 24, 2014, at UFC 173. He won the fight via knockout in the first round.

Ferguson was expected to face Danny Castillo on August 2, 2014, at UFC 176. However, after UFC 176 was cancelled, Castillo/Ferguson was rescheduled and took place on August 30, 2014, at UFC 177. Ferguson won the fight via split decision.

Ferguson faced Abel Trujillo on December 6, 2014, at UFC 181. After losing the first round, Ferguson rallied to win the bout in the second round via submission. Ferguson was expected to face Yancy Medeiros on February 28, 2015, at UFC 184. However, Medeiros pulled out of the bout citing injury and was replaced by Gleison Tibau. Ferguson won the fight by submission in the first round, which also earned him a Performance of the Night bonus.

Ferguson faced Josh Thomson on July 15, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 71. He won the fight via unanimous decision, which earned him his second straight Performance of the Night bonus.

Ferguson was expected to face Khabib Nurmagomedov on December 11, 2015, at The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale. However, Nurmagomedov pulled out of the fight in late October, citing injury, and was replaced by Edson Barboza. After a back-and-forth first round that saw Ferguson docked one point due to an illegal upkick, Ferguson finished Barboza with a d'arce choke submission in the second round. He earned a Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonus with this win.

A rematch with Michael Johnson was briefly scheduled for March 5, 2016, at UFC 196. However, on January 27, it was announced that Johnson withdrew from the bout due to injury. In turn, the bout with Nurmagomedov was rescheduled and expected take place on April 16, 2016, at UFC on Fox 19. Subsequently, on April 5, Ferguson pulled out of the bout due to a lung issue. He was replaced by promotional newcomer Darrell Horcher.

Ferguson was expected to face Michael Chiesa on July 13, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 91. However, Chiesa pulled out of the fight on June 27 citing injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Lando Vannata. Despite being dropped and nearly finished with strikes in the first round, Ferguson rallied to defeat the fatigued Vannata via submission in the second round. Both participants were awarded a Fight of the Night bonus.

Ferguson faced former champion Rafael dos Anjos on November 5, 2016, at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Both participants were awarded Fight of the Night for their performance. The win also set a record for most consecutive wins in UFC lightweight division history with nine.

The pairing with Nurmagomedov was scheduled for a third time at UFC 209, this time for the interim UFC Lightweight Championship. However, prior to the weigh-ins for the event, Nurmagomedov was hospitalized due to the ill-effects of his weight cut, and the bout was cancelled yet again.

Ferguson faced Kevin Lee on October 7, 2017, at UFC 216 for the interim UFC Lightweight Championship. He won the bout via triangle choke submission in the third round.

A bout with Nurmagomedov has been scheduled for the fourth time and is expected to take place on April 7, 2018 at UFC 223.

Personal life
Ferguson is married and has a son, Armand Anthony, born April 28, 2016.

Championships and accomplishments
1 Minimum of at least ten career UFC bouts
 * UFC Interim Lightweight Championship (One time)
 * The Ultimate Fighter 13 winner
 * Fight of the Night (Three times)
 * Knockout of the Night (One time)
 * Performance of the Night (Three times)
 * Submission of the Night (One time)
 * Highest win percentage in UFC history (92.31%)
 * Longest winning streak in lightweight division history (Ten)
 * PureCombat
 * PureCombat Welterweight Championship (One time)

Amateur wrestling

 * National Collegiate Wrestling Association
 * NCWA National Champion (2006)
 * NCWA All-American (2006, 2007)
 * North Central Conference Champion (2006, 2007)
 * Michigan High School Athletic Association
 * MHSAA Division IV State Champion (2002)
 * MHSAA Division IV All-State (2000, 2001, 2002)