Former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson returned to the welterweight division on Saturday in Abu Dhabi against Michael Chiesa.  Both fighters were needing a win in the worst way.  

Ferguson hadn’t won a fight since 2019 and entered the bout on a staggering seven-fight losing streak.  Chiesa entered the octagon at Etihad Arena having lost his last three fights.  

Ferguson came out pressuring Chiesa.  Chiesa moved along the outside.  Chiesa delivered a kick to the body followed by a left hand.  Ferguson responded with a leg kick.  Ferguson continued to press forward.  Chiesa landed a combination.  Ferguson landed his jab.  Chiesa clinched and took Ferguson down.  He took Ferguson’s back and worked to lock on a rear-naked choke.  Ferguson tried to defend the chock but was forced to tap out.  

The loss was Ferguson’s eighth consecutive defeat.  The official time of the stoppage came at 3:44 of the first round.  Following the fight, Ferguson took off one glove and teased his retirement from fighting.  

“I don’t want to retire.  I really don’t, but I love the UFC and I don’t want to go anywhere else,” Ferguson said in his post-fight interview.  “So I’m not going to put both gloves down.  I’m going to put one, and I’m going to keep the other one just in case.”   

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