Tony Ferguson insists he ‘still has the tools to win UFC title’ despite four successive defeats and weighs-up coaching changes after champion Charles Oliveira’s offer to help
- Tony Ferguson suffered brutal knockout by Michael Chandler for another defeat
- He has now lost his last four fights but still believes he could win a title
- ‘El Cucuy’ is pondering changes to coaching team to revive flagging fortunes
Tony Ferguson is weighing up coaching changes after a fourth consecutive defeat but believes he still has the capacity to win a UFC title.
‘El Cucuy’ was brutally knocked out by Michael Chandler in the second round of their recent fight at UFC 274 in Phoenix.
A stunning front-kick ended the contest but Ferguson impressed in the opening round to quieten down of potential retirement.
Tony Ferguson lost his fourth fight in succession against Michael Chandler at UFC 274
He was consoled by champion Charles Oliveira afterwards and the Brazilian even offered to train with him at Chute Boxe gym.
Ferguson told MMA Junkie: ‘I have to really reflect on what he said, because Chute Boxe is a very good school.
‘But he is in my weight class. I’m one of the only fighters that he hasn’t finished, and I went into that fight practicing zero jiu-jitsu.
‘I didn’t do too bad. I didn’t do as bad as Dustin Poirier just sitting there laying there. I stayed active and I went for submissions everywhere. It’s not like I practiced really hard.
Charles Oliveira offered to help Ferguson by welcoming him into his gym to train
‘I’ve got to really think about that one, because I see myself competing against him again. No animosity, but I went back there and talked to him before the weigh-in faceoffs.
‘I told him, he was signing posting, and I walked up to him, put my hand on his shoulder and I said, ‘Hey, kid. You stay focused, all right?’ He turned around and he looked at me and he knows already. Like I told him inside that octagon (when we fought).
‘I put my arm around his shoulder and said, ‘Walk with me.’ I’m a good scout when it comes to certain things. … I know exactly what I have to do and I can’t really say no to it or yes to it.
‘But I know right now that it’s not the time for me to go to Chute Boxe and to train with them. There’s some local gyms out that I’m going to be part of a team and help that team grow as well as myself.’
‘El Cucuy’ thinks he still has the capacity to win a UFC title despite his current slide
Oliveira defeated Ferguson by unanimous decision when they fought and ‘El Cucuy’ is adamant that he can reach the top in one of the UFC’s hardest divisons.
He went on: ‘When I take a loss that I know I lose – I don’t argue with it.
‘I really don’t argue with it. But what I do is take the good things that I’ve taken with it and the good parts that I have learned. One, I’m more flexible than I think. Two, my mentality is strong and my will to win is f***ing there.
‘I just have to put the structure behind it and I have to put the coaching and the technique. I have all the tools to win and to be able to get that belt.’