Tony Ferguson Confirms He’s Not Retiring from UFC

UFC veteran Tony Ferguson has shut down any retirement rumors, insisting he’s not done with fighting despite suffering his eighth consecutive loss at UFC on ABC 7 in August.

After the loss to Michael Chiesa, Ferguson symbolically left one glove in the octagon, hinting at retirement. However, he quickly reversed that sentiment and is now planning a comeback in early 2025.

Speaking to Demetrious Johnson on his YouTube channel, Ferguson emphasized that he still has both “pairs of gloves,” signaling his determination to keep going. “I left half a fcking glove in there, and I got it back, so that just tells me I got both pairs of gloves,”* Ferguson said. “We’re going to probably take the rest of this season, figure some things out, and we’re coming back hard either January or February, so stay tuned. Fck no, I’m not retiring. I’m too old to retire.”*

At 40 years old, Ferguson remains confident in his ability to compete at the highest level, pointing out that age is just a number. “I’m 40 years old. I’m halfway to 80. I’ve been competing since I was 5 years old in multiple sports. I’ve wrestled in college. I’ve done all the other stuff, and it’s not like I don’t know anything else. I do. I’m still able to compete.” He went on to add, “When somebody can run a sprint faster than me, then maybe I’ll start to consider it.”

To prepare for his return, Ferguson has been working with former Navy SEAL David Goggins, known for his extreme motivational methods. Ferguson also plans to reach out to other coaches, including Firas Zahabi, the head coach of UFC legend Georges St-Pierre. “What I really need is to find that coaching and that discipline around other people. Being uncomfortable in practice so that way you’re not miserable in the fight. I approached a couple different coaches. Firas Zahabi is one of the coaches I’ve always admired, because he was GSP’s coach, and GSP was always my target.”

Despite UFC CEO Dana White suggesting that Ferguson should consider retirement, the former interim lightweight champion feels he still has much to give to the sport and is focused on a strong comeback in 2025.

Do you believe Tony Ferguson can make a successful comeback in 2025? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!