Tony Ferguson has fought just once in the past 20 months. Despite that, though, his jiu-jitsu coach is certain the best version of the UFC lightweight contender shows up at UFC 238.
Ferguson’s (24-3 MMA, 14-1 UFC) inactive schedule has been filled with trials and tribulations from serious injuries to personal and family matters. The former interim UFC titleholder has been cleared for competition, though, and his coach Eddie Bravo said Ferguson has been and shown no signs of distress in the lead-up to Saturday’s event matchup with Cerrone (36-1 MMA, 23-8 UFC).
“He’s sharper, stronger, in the best shape of his life,” Bravo said on the “JRE MMA Show” podcast this week. “It’s the same Tony. You think, like, is it going to be the same Tony after he had some family stuff go on? Is that going to change him? His opponents hope it changes him, but he’s the same Tony when it comes to fighting.
“We don’t get into personal stuff, we just stick to fighting and the strategy. He’s sharper than ever. You can’t guarantee any wins, but I will guarantee he’s going to go in 100 percent Tony.”
UFC 238 takes place at United Center in Chicago. Ferguson vs. Cerrone is part of the pay-per-view main card, which follows prelims on ESPN and ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.
Bravo said the matchup with “Cowboy” is one that brings up his excitement for Ferguson’s return. Together the fighters have 26 fight-night bonuses between them in the UFC and have a reputation for being among the most exciting names in the sport.
From a grappling perspective Bravo said it’s not an easy fight for “El Cucuy.” With 17 submission wins, Cerrone is a proven ground threat and Bravo said they’ve trained specific scenarios.
“(Cerrone) doesn’t fight like Khabib, he doesn’t fight like Conor, he fights like Tony,” Bravo said. “So it’s like Tony versus Tony. They’re both good on the ground. They’re both very good on the ground. I respect ‘Cowboy’s’ ground game a lot, and we did everything we can to make sure nothing bad happens on the ground. Tony’s coming for war like he always does.”
Ultimately Bravo said Ferguson’s approach to the fight game is going to be the x-factor in his favor. Anyone who has seen Ferguson compete knows he’s a risk-taker inside the octagon, and for 11 consecutive fights it has paid off with wins.
If Ferguson fights like himself, Bravo said any lightweight will cause him problems.
“What makes Tony so good in my opinion just based on working with him, it seems at the highest level, high-pressure fight, people are more cautious,” Bravo said. “They don’t want to do anything stupid, they’re not just (expletive) letting it swing and letting it go. Tony isn’t like that. People want to go to the point where they just unleash and they don’t give a (expletive), and there’s a lot of fights like that, but Tony when he’s in there, it’s like Nick Diaz. They’re not afraid to throw anything.”
For more on UFC 238, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
