Despite suffering eight consecutive defeats between 2020 and 2024, lightweight legend Tony ‘El Cucuy’ Ferguson has long secured his place in the UFC Hall of Fame.
Amid speculation that his UFC tenure has finally come to an end, Bloody Elbow is taking fans back in time to his iconic 12-fight winning streak; specifically, when it almost came to the most dramatic of ends.
This is the story of one of the best comeback victories in UFC history when Tony Ferguson survived four knockdowns in 10 seconds before locking up a sensational choke against a ‘Groovy’ newcomer.
Tony Ferguson vs Lando Vannata was a ‘Fight for the Ages’
Heading into UFC Fight Night 91 in 2016, Tony Ferguson was running rampant through the lightweight division – a seven-fight winning streak that included impressive victories over Edson Barboza, Josh Thomson, and Gleison Tibau.
At FN 91 in South Dakota, Ferguson was meant to face Michael Chiesa but after ‘Maverick’ withdrew, in stepped New Jersey-born promotional newcomer, Lando ‘Groovy’ Vannata.
Despite this being his UFC debut and a whopping 97% of Tapology Users picking against him, Vannata showed no signs of nerves as he came out with his hands down and his striking loose.
After four minutes of intense back-and-forth action, Vannata would catch a kick and return it with vicious intent; dropping Ferguson with a devastating high kick of his own to stun the crowd.
As ‘El Cucuy’ wobbled back to his feet, Vannata would land a sweeping left hand to send the popular Californian crashing back down to the canvas.
For a third and then fourth time in quick succession, Ferguson attempted to stand back up, only to be knocked down time and time again – surely, this fight was done and dusted, right? Wrong.
Ferguson’s legendary powers of recovery meant he came out for the second round revitalized and rejuvenated, finding his rhythm on the feet and snapping Vannata’s head back with a classic Superman punch.
As ‘Groovy’ attempted to slow Ferguson’s advance, he exposed his neck – a death sentence against such an accomplished submission artist as Ferguson… Just a few seconds later, ‘El Cucuy’ had won the fight via D’Arce choke, the third such submission of his career.
Tony Ferguson reportedly exits UFC and signs with new MMA promotion
The reason we’re highlighting this insane comeback victory from 2016 is because it’s just been reported that Tony Ferguson signed with a new MMA promotion called the Global Fight League.
“@tonyfergusonxt signs with the Global Fight League. #MMA #GFL #USA,” the promotion wrote on Instagram earlier today alongside a graphic featuring the former UFC champion.
Fans have been caught off-guard by the announcement, with many pointing to the fact that Ferguson has neither confirmed the move nor has he even been officially released by the UFC.
As noted by MMA on Point, “Multiple fighters have refuted signing with the GFL and have accused them of false advertising,” so we’ll have to wait and see how this story unfolds.
Whether Ferguson fights in this new promotion or not, he remains one of the best lightweights in UFC history and arguably the most beloved 155ers to have ever competed in the octagon.