Ferguson earns TKO win over Cowboy after doctor's stoppage

Tony Ferguson defeated Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone after doctors stopped the lightweight fight between rounds two and three due to Cerrone's swollen right eye Saturday at UFC 238.

Cowboy attempted to blow his seemingly broken nose, causing the swelling to completely shut his eye.

Ferguson caught Cowboy with a late punch after the second-round bell, but officials determined it wasn't responsible for his opponent's injury. After the bout, Cowboy agreed the punch "had nothing to do with it," according to ESPN's Brett Okamoto.

Now the winner of twelve straight, Ferguson said he's willing to run it back with Cowboy, though a title fight is surely next for "El Cucuy."

"It's not how I wanted the fight to go," said Ferguson, according to Okamoto. "I don't like to win that way. If we run it back I don't mind doing that. He's a hell of a fighter. I don't want to win like that. I'm a better fighter than that. I don't give a f--- who's next. I'm pissed at myself."

Cowboy avoided his usual slow start, keeping pace with the always-aggressive Ferguson during the opening round. He arguably landed the heavier shots in Round 1 and caused a minor cut above Ferguson's eye, but failed to deter his opponent's advances.

Ferguson went hard at Cerrone's body with elbows and kicks early in the second, and Cowboy quickly began to show the effects of the punishment. He briefly took down Ferguson after a missed spinning elbow, but soon succumbed to the constant pressure.