3 reasons Tony Ferguson’s GFL move would help the fighter
Long-time UFC veteran Tony Ferguson joins the ranks of the 2025 GFL Draft ahead of the promotion's debut on 4 April.
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UFC's Tony Ferguson in 2025 GFL Draft (Source: IMAGO/X)
It’s not every day that there’s an MMA Draft, but on Friday this week, there was one. Six teams, each representing a major city, drafted from a pool of around 500 fighters. These included big-name free agencies and surging names for the 2025 GFL Draft. But one that is a proper head-turner — UFC lightweight legend Tony Ferguson.
The 2025 GFL Draft had one hundred twenty athletes coming from across a pool of 10 weight classes. Namely – heavyweight, light heavyweight, middleweight, welterweight, lightweight, featherweight, bantamweight, women’s bantamweight, women’s strawweight, and women’s atomweight.
Ferguson was a Round 3 draft pick (Pick 14; Los Angeles). Question arises: what does a GFL future do for “El Cucuy”? Here is a brief look.
3. Hunter or hunted?
Longtime UFC vet “El Cucuy” turns up to 41 in just a few weeks. Hence, Tony Ferguson took the world by shock, and somewhat renewed resilience when he said he’s in talks to join GFL. The former interim UFC lightweight champion and winner of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series has had quite a run. But the fighter in Ferguson has seen better days.
His name translates to ‘Coca’ AKA boogeyman in Hispanophone and Lusophone lores. But he was hardly a hunter anymore. Tony Ferguson (25-11 MMA, 15-9 UFC) is fresh off a UFC-record eighth-straight loss; most in UFC competition. He last lost to Michael Chiesa this past August at UFC on ABC 7. Before that, he lost to Scouser brand fighter Paddy Pimblett.
For the nth time, UFC boss Dana White made repeated requests for retirement. Ferguson once had a 12-fight win streak in a row. However, the fighter lost his mojo in the convoluted UFC lightweight and welterweight talent pool. A fresh start and a new jungle might be just what the hunter needs for motivation.
2. Purposes to an end
Speaking of motivation, Ferguson is lacking some solid pack of reasons. Ferguson once matched Khabib Nurmagomedov’s legendary 12-win streak, but never quite “matched” him. He held the championship (IC) strap but injury pullouts had his title stripped away. The veteran brawler had it all, but never quite had it “all.” Now. that Ferguson’s draft eligibility for the 2025 GFL Draft is a go, things can turn around.
During the 2025 GFL Draft (virtual) draft, Tony Ferguson said he was lacking ‘purpose.’ He kept lacing his gloves. He was chasing and challenging but not landing big. Ferguson even mentioned getting boxing offers in the later frames. It’s still hush-hush on who it was (Darren Till; Tyron Woodley?). But that never happened.
White once ponied up as a one-time promoter for The Money Fight starring “The Notorious” Conor McGregor. Bolstered by Saudi GEA boxing chief after UFC on ABC 6: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov, he expanded. White and Co. also repped Callum Walsh’s Irish homecoming and win on UFC FIGHT PASS. But he wouldn’t do it for a losing Ferguson (obviously).
Ferguson was thus on a slump in all rulesets and avenues; GFL can change that. He was a big hit in the TUF reality series. The GFL will similarly be a team-based promotion. Managers from six teams include Wanderlei Silva and coach Rafael Cordeiro coaching him. It can drive up his motivation yet again.
1. ‘Champ Sh*t Only…and champ money!’
It’s thus somewhat granted that Tony Ferguson and GFL could be a good fit. The beloved fighter could be the “it” man again in MMA cultures. When he kept dousing his CSO line, it often went for “Champ Sh*t Only” or Chief Security Officer. If something was needed, he was the go-to guy, as he explained before facing Charles Oliveira. But what does he get out of it?
‘Champ Sh*t’ needs champ dough to go along with it. The GFL has announced a 50-50 revenue split and compensation with fighters, as well as fighter pension and insurance funds as a way of “prioritizing financial security.” It could end up offering unprecedented profit-sharing shticks. Rumor mill has the GFL going north of $1.5 million in a fighter deal. For all his worth, this could be very beneficial for Ferguson.
Ferguson already has an interested party in former opponent Kevin Lee (19-8). Lee has also signed with the GFL and made a call-up, looking to avenge his submission loss. Safe to say, things might be looking up the “El Cucuy” way, who’d have otherwise gone free agency.
Related: UFC legend Tony Ferguson shockingly announced to sign with Global Fight League; fans in disbelief
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