Despite training Tony Ferguson for his UFC 296, David Goggins thinks it is time for “El Cucuy” to exit the MMA cage.
Ferguson hired the former US Navy SEAL David Goggins to train for his UFC 296 bout against Paddy Pimblett last Saturday. During the training, the ultramarathon runner shared the fighter’s progress and even expressed praises for Ferguson, who “has an unbelievable resolve, ability and willingness to suffer.” Unfortunately, these sacrifices and characters were not enough for the fighter to defeat the Briton last weekend.
In the fight, “The Baddy” prevailed by finishing all rounds and winning via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). Unfortunately for Ferguson, he didn’t just lose the chance to redeem himself; he has also lost some believers. That includes Goggins, who prepared him for the fight.
In his recent YouTube content, former fighter Daniel Cormier shared an encounter with Goggins after the fight. According to the commentator, the trainer approached him and admitted that it might be the time for the fighter to retire.
“… David Goggins, who cornered him today, came up to us at the end of the fight and said, ‘Tony may retire after this.’ And I said, ‘Well, is he?’ And he goes, ‘I don’t know.’ But we gave our opinions and said, ‘Maybe it is time for Tony to retire.’ While his heart and his mind is still telling him to go, I don’t necessarily know if his timing is still where it needs to be… He isn’t the same guy.”
Goggins is not the only person to suggest the idea after witnessing Ferguson’s performance in the octagon. UFC CEO Dana White himself also pointed out that based on the opponents the fighter failed to defeat, it probably is time for El Cucuy to retire.
However, in his recent post, Ferguson suggested he might still consider another fight, telling his fans to “keep the faith.” This, however, is not an assurance that the former interim lightweight champ could still secure a fight in the future. With his current losing streak and White’s straightforward suggestion for retirement, getting another bout at UFC will now probably be a challenge for the fighter.
