Charles Oliveira believes that UFC matchmakers should pair Tony Ferguson with veteran fighters rather than younger opponents if Ferguson continues to fight, as a way to honor his legacy and provide more evenly matched contests.
Charles Oliveira wishes UFC matchmakers would reconsider their strategy for Tony Ferguson’s future fights. If Ferguson steps back into the octagon, Oliveira hopes for a different approach. After all, they’ve got history.
Back in 2020, Oliveira handed Ferguson his second loss in what became an eight-fight losing streak. It was tough to see Ferguson face another defeat this past August in Abu Dhabi. Michael Chiesa took him down with a first-round submission. Ouch.
Ferguson, once the interim lightweight champion, hinted at retirement post-fight. But then he switched gears at the press conference, saying, “No, I still wanna fight.” Mixed signals much?
Oliveira believes Ferguson deserves immense respect just for stepping into the ring. “He deserves a standing ovation for everything he’s done in the UFC,” Oliveira stated. He thinks the UFC should pair Ferguson with someone closer to his age. That way, they can put on a show and get the applause they both deserve.
In five of those eight losses, Ferguson didn’t make it to the final bell—Justin Gaethje, Michael Chandler, Nate Diaz, and Bobby Green all stopped him. Decision defeats came from Oliveira himself, Beneil Dariush, and Paddy Pimblett.
The last time Ferguson faced an older opponent was June 2019 against Donald Cerrone—a fight he won. Oliveira suggests UFC should match “El Cucuy” with veterans nearing the end of their careers instead of young guns like Pimblett.
“The guy doesn’t want to retire; he’s still in the game,” Oliveira remarked. So why not find someone with similar experience for an epic showdown? That’d be fantastic! Pairing him with hungry newcomers isn’t fair—it complicates things. It hurts to see a seasoned fighter like him go up against youngsters eager to make a name for themselves.