Tony Ferguson

Anthony Armand Ferguson Padilla (born February 12, 1984) is an American professional mixed martial artist.

He currently competes in the Lightweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

He is a former Interim UFC Lightweight Champion.

Ferguson was born in Oxnard, California, on February 12, 1984, but grew up mainly in Muskegon, Michigan.

He is of Mexican heritage.

His surname of Ferguson comes from his Scottish American stepfather.

Ferguson was a three-sport athlete at Muskegon Catholic Central High School in American football, baseball, and wrestling.

He was the starting defensive back for the 2000 Division 8 state football champions and was a three-time All-State selection in wrestling, winning the 152-lb division in 2002.

After high school, Ferguson enrolled at Central Michigan University before transferring to Grand Valley State University.

He also did a stint at Muskegon Community College.

He did not complete his degree, but had a successful collegiate wrestling career, winning the 2006 National Collegiate Wrestling Association national wrestling championship in the 165-lb division.

Following college, Ferguson moved back to California to be closer to his extended family, working in marketing and sales during the day and picking up shifts as a bartender at night.

One night, while working a bar shift, a patron noticed Ferguson's cauliflower ear and struck up a conversation about his wrestling background.

The patron was a trainer at a local MMA gym and invited him to work with some young mixed martial artists on their wrestling.

Shortly after this, he decided to pursue a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) career.

Ferguson began his professional MMA career fighting in small organizations around California in 2007.

Notable matches in his early career include a win over kickboxing champion Joe Schilling and a loss to future World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) fighter Karen Darabedyan.

Ferguson applied to compete in the UFC's reality series The Ultimate Fighter multiple times.

Ferguson debuted in 2008, and has been with the UFC since he won The Ultimate Fighter 13 in 2011.

He is trained in freestyle wrestling, boxing, jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, and Wing Chun.

In 2010, he was finally accepted to compete in season 13 of the series after amassing a 10–2 professional record and winning the welterweight championship in PureCombat.

He competed as a welterweight on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Lesnar vs. Team dos Santos.

Ferguson was selected as the third pick for Team Lesnar.

In his first fight, Ferguson defeated Justin Edwards by knockout in the first round.

He next faced Ryan McGillivray in the quarterfinals and won by a TKO in the first round.

He then faced Chuck O'Neil in the semifinals and won by TKO in the third round to advance to the final.

Ferguson officially made his UFC debut at the Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale against Ramsey Nijem to determine the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 13.

Ferguson defeated Nijem by knockout in the first round to win a UFC contract.

He also received the Knockout of the Night bonus.

Following his debut, Ferguson returned to lightweight and faced Aaron Riley on September 24, 2011, at UFC 135.

The fight was stopped after the first round after Riley said he had a broken jaw, resulting in a TKO victory for Ferguson.

Ferguson then faced MMA veteran Yves Edwards at the Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale.

Ferguson won via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, and 29–28).

Ferguson was expected to face Dennis Hallman on May 5, 2012, at UFC on Fox: Diaz vs. Miller.

Hallman pulled out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Thiago Tavares.

Then, Tavares was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Michael Johnson.

Ferguson lost the fight by unanimous decision.

After over a year away from competition while healing an arm injury incurred in his last fight, Ferguson returned to face Mike Rio on October 19, 2013, at UFC 166 which was the beginning of his twelve fight win streak.

He won by D'Arce choke submission in the first round.

The win also earned him his first Submission of the Night award.