Former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson is set to return to UFC action against rising star Paddy Pimblett, a match-up that has surprised many, including Beneil Dariush, who believes the fight could be a good opportunity for Ferguson to bounce back from a six-fight losing streak.
Quite a few folks were taken aback when UFC declared that ex-interim lightweight champ Tony Ferguson would be squaring off against rising sensation Paddy Pimblett. Ferguson, once a powerhouse in the division, has hit a rough patch with six consecutive losses, including four knockouts or submissions.
On the other side of the ring, Pimblett’s been given a hefty shove up the ranks by UFC due to his skyrocketing popularity. But, despite four victories under his belt, there’s been chatter about him being far from a finished product, regardless of the limelight he’s basking in.
In Pimblett’s latest brawl, he managed a controversial win by decision, even though many thought his rival Jared Gordon should’ve taken the cake.
Beneil Dariush, the main event at UFC Austin this Saturday against Arman Tsarukyan, was among the surprised when the matchup was revealed. But, he’s warmed up to it over time, particularly considering his old adversary Ferguson. “Honestly, it was definitely a surprise when I first saw it, but what can you do?” Dariush shared with MMA Fighting. “I mean if you stay in the game long enough, the old lions are going to get eaten by new lions. That’s just the way the game is.”
Tony doesn’t seem to have any plans to throw in the towel. Can’t really point fingers at UFC like ‘you guys are just trying to hurt Tony.’ But Tony has been fighting nothing but top contenders and now they’re like we’ll have you fight someone outside the top, but who’s still pretty popular. Dariush reckons this is a good fight for Tony.
During his six-fight losing streak, Ferguson faced four opponents who have either held UFC gold or fought for a UFC title. The other two losses were to fighters currently ranked in the top 15 by the promotion — including his loss to Dariush back in 2021. That’s a hell of a lineup to face, especially when you’re trying to claw your way back to a win.
As for Dariush, he’s unsure about Pimblett’s potential just four fights into his UFC career. He believes the Liverpool native still has a long way to go in terms of skill development if he wants to take on the world’s best in the lightweight division.
“As far as talent, if you look at me at the beginning of my career, I was not anywhere near where I am now,” Dariush said, comparing himself to Pimblett. “It could be the same thing with Paddy. His growth could be exponential and he could become a champion one day. At the moment, I just think he needs a lot of work.”
All this makes Ferguson a likely contender to beat, which is why Dariush believes the UFC’s matchmaking was actually pretty spot on when putting this fight together. “I think it’s going to be a little bit of that [dog fight],” Dariush said. “I think Tony can definitely end up pushing Paddy more than he’d expect.”