Ferguson 'just barely' hitting his prime, plotting UFC title run

Tony Ferguson thinks the best is yet to come.

The former UFC interim lightweight champion, who will attempt to end his five-fight losing streak in a fight against Bobby Green at UFC 291 on Saturday, believes he's only now reaching the peak of his career.

"I feel, at this point in time in my life, that I'm just barely hitting my prime. Which is crazy," Ferguson said Wednesday at UFC 291 media day.

For years, the 39-year-old was considered one of the three best lightweights on the planet. But he's dropped significantly since 2020, losing five straight and falling out of the rankings.

Ferguson said some of those losses occurred because he spent too much time helping up-and-coming fighters with their training camps. This time, he excused himself from those duties to look after himself.

"Last couple of fights, I haven't really been in it," Ferguson said, adding: "My focus is back."

There's been some chatter about whether Ferguson should retire if he loses to Green this weekend in Salt Lake City. But the lightweight has no plan to hang up the gloves anytime soon. In fact, if he gets back on track against Green, he sees that as the beginning of another UFC title run.

"Nobody else is going to tell me (to retire)," Ferguson said. "They can propose, they can say, 'Oh, Tony's going, whatever, he's going to retire.' No, motherf-----s, f--k you. I'm going to be done when I want to be done. But I'm also going to have to do what I have to do in order to get to where I want to get. Five fights and a title, baby."