On a six-fight skid and nearing B.J. Penn territory, the ever-popular Tony Ferguson looked to right the ship against British star Paddy Pimblett at UFC 296.
Pimblett, still undefeated inside the UFC octagon, was looking to claim his biggest scalp to date, even while admitting that Ferguson was, as he put it, “on his way out.” Making the fight something of a lose-lose for “The Baddy” despite how dangerous “El Cucuy” remained.
Fan sentiment was squarely in the corner of Ferguson to start Saturday’s lightweight bout, second in on the UFC 296 main card. The fight had some big shoes to fill, coming on the heels of an all-time brutal KO of Bryce Mitchell by Josh Emmett.
Ferguson worked his jab early when the bout got underway; Ferguson went to the body with a kick, then connected with a low kick. Ferguson landed a right; Pimblett slipped a moment later, and Pimblett went to the body with a kick once more before shooting for a takedown that Ferguson scrambled away from.
Another body kick, followed by a calf kick, came from Paddy, while Tony uncorked another right hand. Both men had found their weapons it seemed, at least for the time being. A left hand would land for Pimblett just past the midway mark, with another moments later. Soon, Pimblett was on the attack, with Ferguson backing away. But Ferguson landed a left of his own, buying himself some space. He regrouped, firing a couple of low kicks as the crowd chanted “Tony, Tony” — but it was Pimblett coming on, firing punches and a jump knee to the body, with one shot dropping Ferguson! For a moment, Pimblett looked for a choke, which allowed Tony to scramble and survive. But Paddy Pimblett took the back, unloading with ground n’ pound as Ferguson rolled, scrambled, and heeded the ref’s advice to keep fighting back.
Somehow, Tony Ferguson survived the round. Though it was quite possibly a 10-8 for Paddy Pimblett.
A massively strong start for Pimblett in round one was followed by Ferguson pressing forward early in the second. When he threw up a front kick, however, Tony slipped. Pimblett got into his guard, but had to contend with a triangle attempt. Despite an active guard, Pimblett was able to uncork some big ground strikes. It was Paddy Pimblett, whoever, who wound up cut, and having to contend with another triangle attempt.
With two minutes to go in the second round, Ferguson was still on his back, but Pimblett wasn’t getting much damage in. He did, however, look to set up an arm-triangle choke, but wound up stuck back in Ferguson’s guard.
A pep talk from his corner between rounds urged Tony Ferguson to walk forward with long, straight punches. Pimblett, however, nearly tripped him up early with a leg kick. Pimblett then shot for a sloppy takedown, with Ferguson declining an invitation to get on top. It appeared Paddy had tired, and another iffy shot followed. But he got a hold of Ferguson on the third attempt, scooped him up and slammed him.
That put Paddy back where he wanted to be, though with three minutes and then some on the clock, victory was far from assured. Ferguson nearly scrambled out with 90 seconds remaining, but Pimblett was able to reassert himself on top. Now, the clock was a factor. Ferguson tried for a desperation guillotine, but Pimblett pulled free of it. It would go to the bell, and there was no question as to the winner — with Tony Ferguson coming up short for the seventh straight occasion.
