Michael Johnson calls out Tony Ferguson

• Sports

Tony Ferguson is in dire need of a win. Once on a 12-fight winning streak, he suffered a devastating defeat to Justin Gaethje in 2020. This setback sent his career spiraling, as he went on to lose four more consecutive fights, three of which ended in stoppages.

The losses to Gaethje and Michael Chandler, who knocked him out with a front kick, were particularly brutal. In his most recent bout, Nate Diaz submitted him in the fourth round. It is clear to many that Ferguson's prime is behind him and that he should consider retiring.

Despite his string of losses, the UFC has not yet released him and he remains under contract. He has been offered an intriguing matchup for his next fight. "Yo @TonyFergusonXT not sure if you’re still in the big game, but if so and you want to come back to 55 I’ll give you a chance to redeem yourself.

😎 or we can do it 170 also!! Let’s give the fans what they want!!!" tweeted Michael Jonson.

Johnson's Ups and Downs

Johnson is referencing his defeat of Ferguson in May of 2012, when he secured a unanimous decision victory.

Following this loss, Ferguson went on a 12-fight winning streak, while Johnson's career has been marked by its ups and downs, with 10 wins and 12 losses since then. Despite having losing streaks that sometimes stretched to three or four fights in a row, he always managed to bounce back just when it seemed his career was over.

In 2022, Johnson recorded two wins and one loss. He knocked out Alan Patrick in the second round, defeated Marco Diakiese by unanimous decision in December, and suffered a split decision loss to Jamie Mullarkey in between these wins.

Many believe that Johnson was unjustly defeated in his fight against Mullarkey and deserved to have his hand raised. Had the outcome been different, he would be riding a three-fight win streak, instead of coming off four consecutive losses.

Although Johnson hasn't lived up to the expectations set for him early in his career, he is still a formidable fighter capable of defeating almost any opponent on his best days.