Jon Jones vs. Tony Ferguson? UFC Legend Recalls Short-Notice Wrestling Match Against ‘GOAT’ in College

UFC veteran Tony Ferguson shares his story about wrestling with former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

Jon Jones vs. Tony Ferguson? UFC Legend Recalls Short-Notice Wrestling Match Against ‘GOAT’ in College

Tony Ferguson remembers almost beating Jon Jones in wrestling (via Imago)

Tony Ferguson is undoubtedly one of the most entertaining and wild fighters in the last one decade of the UFC. Before his recent official retirement from the promotion, the tough veteran warrior gave several unforgettable wars to the fans. Ferguson has fought some of the biggest and most dangerous names in combat sports history and Jon Jones is surprisingly included, too.

Despite being famously known for his striking abilities and incredible cardio, Ferguson actually started his career as a college wrestler. During his time competing in the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA), he faced off against some of the toughest opponents. In a recent Red Corner MMA interview, Ferguson revealed how he wrestled against the widely considered ‘GOAT’ Jon Jones.

I wrestled Jon Jones in college. I lost by one point. I bumped up two weight classes. I won nationals at 165-lbs. I jumped up two weight classes and I was weighing at 175-lbs and wrestling these guys, cutting from 200 to 185 lbs and took third at nationals that year. I wrestled Jon Jones at the Cliff Keen National Duels and I lost by one f***ing point. I almost beat him.

Tony Ferguson via Red Corner MMA

Ferguson had a highly successful wrestling background, becoming a three-time All-American athlete during his NCWA career. He won the 2006 NCWA national championship, proving his elite skills by dominating competition and displaying relentless wrestling pressure.

Ferguson also earned multiple regional titles, consistently outworking opponents with unmatched cardio, powerful takedowns, and impressive technical grappling. It was his wrestling that enabled him to become a dangerous submission specialist once he started training in BJJ.

Similarly, Jones had an impressive collegiate wrestling career, competing at the NJCAA level and quickly establishing himself as a dominant wrestler. In 2006, Jones won the national championship at Iowa Central Community College. His wrestling success provided a strong foundation for mixed martial arts, where Jones combined wrestling with striking to dominate opponents.

While Ferguson has made these surprising comments, Jones has never publicly mentioned anything about this particular incident. On the other hand, ‘El Cucuy’ is well known for making several ridiculous claims and strange stories without proof. Nevertheless, fans definitely find these entertaining moments enjoyable, especially since they come from a fan-favourite fighter like Ferguson.

UFC veteran explains Tony Ferguson’s prime version

In his prime, Tony Ferguson was absolutely dominating everybody and went on an incredible 12-fight winning streak in the UFC’s lightweight division. Ferguson defeated top contenders like Rafael dos Anjos, Anthony Pettis, Edson Barboza, and Donald Cerrone during this run. However, his biggest challenge was the former lightweight champion and current Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, with whom he never fought.

Tony Ferguson infamous fight with Justin Gaethje
Tony Ferguson’s infamous fight with Justin Gaethje (via X)

The highly anticipated fight between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson was cancelled five times, leaving fans deeply disappointed each time. Injuries, weight issues, and even a global pandemic crushed what many believed could be the greatest lightweight matchup ever. During one of his podcast episodes, Joe Rogan talked about this dream match-up in detail.

In the old days, when Tony Ferguson was on his undefeated run, he was one of the Baddest men on the planet. The fact that he and Khabib never got to fight was a real tragedy. When he was in his prime, he tripped on some wire and ripped his f**king knee apart. That’s why the fight got cancelled. He came back but an elite fighter can only operate at their highest level for so many years.

Joe Rogan via JRE

Ferguson’s downfall began after his loss to Justin Gaethje, where he took tremendous damage and never fully recovered afterward. One fact many fans forget is that ‘El Cucuy’ did two weight cuts for the UFC 249 interim title fight. This made him noticeably slower and Gaethje waited patiently and countered the slow version of Ferguson.

Following that brutal defeat, Ferguson suffered an eight-fight losing streak, consistently outclassed by younger, faster, and stronger opponents inside the UFC octagon. Before retirement, a once-feared legend ended his career on multiple consecutive losses, leaving fans heartbroken and disappointed.

Also Read: