Tony Ferguson says he 'got too one-dimensional,' explains transformation for UFC 262

Pretty big fan a both Benny and Tony....obv Tony quite a bit longer. Killin me to make a pick here and atm I'm pretty high on Benny. Prolly pick Benny and secretly hope Tony takes the W.

Up for this!
 
KazDibiase said:
After finding himself in unfamiliar territory, Tony Ferguson says he’s undergone some changes.

For the first time in his career, Ferguson has lost two consecutive fights, this coming after the former UFC interim lightweight champion had been on a 12-fight winning streak.

Ferguson (25-5 MMA, 15-3 UFC) will look to rebound from losses to Justin Gaethje and Charles Oliveira when he meets Beneil Dariush at UFC 262 on May 15 in Houston. While he offers no excuses for his recent setbacks, “El Cucuy” knew something had to change.

“Last year, it had nothing to do with coaches or anything else,” Ferguson told Submission Radio. “Seriously, I take all the fall and all my blame on it, but the two losses that I had, I’m gonna be real with you guys: It was the best learning experience I probably could’ve ever had and the best thing that was for me and my family.”



He continued, “Chasing after a guy like (retired former champion) Khabib and then trying to get the fight and then not getting the fight and then having interim belts dangled in front of you, the game is what it is. You can’t get mad at the game. But how you play the game is exactly your approach. And that’s what I did for this year. I completely changed my approach.”

Ferguson, who’s been running his own operations with a tight-knit group, recently spent time at Wild Card Boxing with legendary trainer Freddie Roach, which has reignited his passion for the game.

“Where we’re at right now, I’m hungry as f*ck,” Ferguson said. “And I haven’t had the love for the game in a minute. I’m gonna be real: I haven’t even sparred yet, but I’m getting that f*cking hunger just being around it over at Wild Card.”

He continued, “Instead of a varsity mentality, I went back to an Olympic mentality, and I started to surround myself around people that are hungry how I am and how they’ve been for a long time. And I started to find myself over at Wild Card a lot easier, because that’s where I knew that I could find that kind of grind.”



Ferguson takes on the streaking Dariush (20-4-1 MMA, 14-4-1 UFC), who’s been longing for a big fight. He has nothing but respect for the well rounded contender, who has motivated Ferguson to add new wrinkles to his game.

“It’s a great fight,” Ferguson said. “Let’s talk about Beneil: The guy’s an up-and-comer. Not up-and-comer, an OG dude. He’s been doing the game for a long time. He’s over at Huntington beach with Rafael Cordeiro. He’s a southpaw, he’s very strong on his left side. He’s very game in mixing it up. So, that’s why I’ve been mixing my shit up. Because I got too one-dimensional. When you get too one dimensional, you start to plateau.

“And as a master trainer, you should be able to realize that and then understand that, make some changes, and then be able to get your athlete back on the same program, which was, not peaking, but steadily increasing. Paying attention to the smaller details are always going to make for the best things. And Beneil and their team, they got a sh*t load of people over there helping them out. They got like an ‘Ultimate Fighter’ team. It feels like I’m back on the ‘Ultimate Fighter,’ guys. It really does.

“I’m hungry as f*ck, and I’m back. I’m really back on it, man. And I’m mixing it up really, really well, better than a f**king blender.”



https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021...-explains-transformation-beneil-dariush-fight
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Not sure what an old mental patient can do to change his game tbh. He relied on chin and cardio to win fights. That won't help him anymore.
 
"The guy’s an up-and-comer. Not up-and-comer, an OG dude."

{<huh}
 
"It was the best learning experience" - no, it wasn't. Many say this and their style doesn't change

"for me and my family." - it's funny that fighters often bring family into talk just like they bring God
 
Fergelmince said:
"The guy’s an up-and-comer. Not up-and-comer, an OG dude."

{<huh}
Click to expand...
Whatama gonna do...just grind my feet in Eddie bravo's couch like it's the thing to do,cmon I think I got more sense than that.


Yea I remember grinding my feet in Eddie bravo's couch. Yknow. Cos he can buy another one!
 
Trust him, he back, the game is to be respected.
 
This sounds good, I really hope Tony can win this fight. Imo it's a better matchup than Oliveira or Gaethje but Dariush is probably looking to take Tony down and control him instead of brawling him on the feet
 
JG whipped him on the feet. Chuck smoked him on the mat. Father Time don’t need a contract from Dana to prove itself.

Was always excited to see TF make the walk. Not so much now
 
I wonder how much Freddie Roach is charging Tony to train him.
 
Hungry Tony is not to be underestimated.
 
Xoleth said:
"It was the best learning experience" - no, it wasn't. Many say this and their style doesn't change

"for me and my family." - it's funny that fighters often bring family into talk just like they bring God
Click to expand...

My family really enjoyed Justin beating more CTE into me
 
truedough said:
Tony is one of the most overrated fighters in UFC history. He crumbled when he faced top contenders.
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No, his ship simply sailed. He's 37 and those fights were less than a year ago. The oldest person to ever win the LW belt was only 33.
 
He didnt need to go into all that. The guy was a talent and needed/ needs to make alterations. Let people think what they want and hopefully perform in the way he thinks he can. He already , imo, made a poor decision in opponent. Fighters continue not to learn from others mistakes. Beneil is at the top of his game and if Tony wins, that's awesome but I just have this sinking feeling that Dariush will use Tony's name as a stepping stone into top 5. A great choice on Beneils end. I like both guys but I'm kind of rooting for Tony but me head tells me Beneil.

I'll say this for 6th time. Beneil shouldve gotten Chandler ( he beats hooker ?? and now will fight for belt ??). DP and do bronx would be an epic title fight - the 2 155ers who have evolved most in past 3 years.
Conor can pick of the rest.

The one thing I'm more than ok with is that Dustin is basically getting step aside money with enormous trilogy fight with Conor.... the one thing I cant take away from McGregor- what he brings to the gate cant be matched. He loses again, though, then his career is a wrap- he doesn't need the bread and I'm sure the perfect timing for him to mimic Haglers waking up in silk pajamas line will be his excuse/ fair well.

Flip side of coin, Dustin better not fall into a sense of false confidence. Conor hits like a truck and I really didnt think he was going to do this fight. That tells me alot - I think Dustin the better mmartist as they're both at the proper weight class but the better mmartist doesnt always win.

I think Chandler beating the overrated hooker and how he did it will play against him.I fully expect the now complete fighter, Oliveria to flat out handle Chandler.
Do bronx vs. DDP is the fight I really want to see.

There is one long shot ....an unlikely one but still one - If Charl O just walks through Mike ( if) then we could see some prairie dogging from THE MAN looking for #30.

Yes - he " could" return for opponent he deems worthy .

Remember Cain v Fabricio .
 
truedough said:
Tony is one of the most overrated fighters in UFC history. He crumbled when he faced top contenders.
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Yet he beat guys better than Oliveira...

Maybe just Maybe, he's past his prime? I know it's crazy, with him being so young, injury free and damage free his whole career, how could I think this?
 
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