Is it time for El Cucuy to Retire?
Only a few months ago, Michael Chandler knocked Tony Ferguson out with a brutal head kick. Very recently, Tony lost once again, this time getting submitted by UFC legend, Nate Diaz. Ferguson was once a fighter that absolutely terrorized the lightweight division. His violent, bloody, dominant style earned him the nickname El Cucuy, which comes from a Mexican and Latin American tale, similar to the boogeyman. And for a long while he truly was the boogeyman of the UFC. Tony once held an astounding twelve fight win streak, with many wins by KO/TKO or submission. However, now on a five fight losing streak, it may be time for El Cucuy to retire.
Although Ferguson could go on fighting and could still compete with many of the fighters in his division, it is a question of health and safety as to if he should still be allowed to compete. Tony has suffered a lot of damage over the many years of intense fighting, and it has shown in his recent performances. It’s somewhat surprising to see him compete again so soon after his brutal head kick KO, when many of the fighters who were on the same card, who sustained much less damage, aren’t fighting again until late October or November.
As more research comes out about the long-term effects of brain damage sustained from fighting, and haunting tales of CTE, it might be in Tony’s best interest to retire from the sport and instead focus his time on running his gym and coaching.
El Cucuy will always be a legend of the sport and will be remembered as a boogeyman with brutal elbows and an unorthodox yet effective style. No fan ever wants to see their favorite fighters retire off of a losing streak, or see them sustain life-altering damage. However, each time Tony steps into the cage he may be doing irreversible damage that takes years off his life. Hopefully he can walk away knowing that he will always be a fan and fighter favorite, and stay involved in the sport through his gym and coaching.
