Tony Ferguson had a chance to shake off a disastrous losing streak and finish off his UFC contract on Saturday, taking on longtime UFC standout and TUF vet Michael Chiesa in a welterweight bout.
The fight was slow early on, as the two fighters looked to find their range while utilizing a high volume of feints. Following a lengthy feeling-out process, Chiesa managed to wrap Ferguson up against the cage and take the back of his opponent.
After Ferguson’s unsuccessful effort to fight the hands, Chiesa would lock in the rear-naked choke and submit Ferguson within the first few minutes of the first round.
Chiesa was graceful in victory, giving up the microphone to Ferguson, who would announce his partial retirement from the sport of mixed-martial arts.
“I’m putting one glove down, but keeping one just in case,” Ferguson told Daniel Cormier in his post-fight interview.
Ferguson stated that he would like to continue his fighting career, but has no interest in fighting outside of the UFC, the promotion that has been his home for over a decade.
Chiesa returns to the win column with an impressive submission victory, while this may have been the last time UFC fans witness Tony Ferguson step into the cage.
Official Result: Michael Chiesa def. Tony Ferguson by submission (Rear-naked choke), Round 1, 3:44
