On Saturday night, Tony Ferguson put on one of the best performances of his career taking a unanimous decision victory over former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos. It was the ninth straight victory for Ferguson - a record in the UFC for consecutive divisional wins as well as for consecutive wins without a title shot - and possibly (probably? one can never tell where Conor McGregor is involved) sets him up for the next lightweight title shot.
But Ferguson isn't only gunning for the lightweight strap, he's got multiple divisions in mind. Speaking with MMAJunkie in a post-fight scrum, Ferguson outlined his plan to vie for three UFC titles.
"I'm here to win. There are two other divisions I would love to be able to go into. I made 153 pounds at the weigh-ins. I weighed in with pants on. I can go down to 145. I can kick everyone's butt there. I can bump back up to 155, knock everybody out and finish them and you're damn sure I can go to 170 and do the same thing. I want to be a multi-division champ."
That may prove easier said than done though. Only two men in history have held UFC titles in multiple divisions (with McGregor having a chance to become the third - and first simultaneous champion - this weekend) and only 10 have ever challenged for world titles in multiple divisions, with none having done it at more than two weight classes. It's a tall task to achieve and Ferguson didn't do himself any favors in his interview with Jon Anik after the fight, saying ten words total before going off to celebrate with his team. But apparently that's part of the plan for Ferguson.
"I'm not gonna talk my way to get there. I'm gonna earn it every single step of the way, like I said from the Ultimate Fighter house."
If McGregor beats Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205, that could theoretically make things much easier for Ferguson as McGregor would then be holding two of the belts. But Ferguson isn't concerned about that, or about UFC 205 at all. Speaking with Heidi Androl after the fight, Ferguson made it clear he doesn't care about the outcome of upcoming lightweight title fight.
"I hope they knock each other out. Plain and simple. I really don't care. I've got other things to worry about than watching that fight."
If that does happen, maybe at least we'll finally get the Ferguson vs. Nurmagomedov fight that has fallen through so many times.
MUST-READ STORIES
Results. Tony Ferguson won a decision over Rafael dos Anjos. You can find all the UFC Fight Night 98 results here.
Bellator. Phil Davis became the new 205 lb. champion at Bellator 163.
Stay strapped. Conor McGregor doesn't plan to vacate either title after UFC 205.
Optics. Michael Bisping says he won't fight Yoel Romero even if he beats Chris Weidman at UFC 205.
Busy man. Donald Cerrone calls out Demian Maia for UFC 207.
Featherweight. Miesha Tate doesn't think the UFC should create a women's featherweight division for Cris Cyborg.
EXTRA CREDIT
Fair weather. Kirsten Fleming of the New York Post wrote about Ronda Rousey's hiatus and the change of public perception that came with it.
MEDIA STEW
Free Fight.
Bellator post-fight presser.
Miesha on Jay and Dan
TTTHS.
CES 39 highlights.
Conor playing the UFC game against some YT personality.
And because why not, I know y'all eat this up, here's more Conor.
LISTEN UP
Bushido Talk.
6th Round.
Parting Shot.
TWEETS
Great fight.
@RdosAnjosMMA Thanks Champ, Respect Homie-
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) November 6, 2016
#ThatFeelingWhen you earn the biggest win of your career ..@TonyFergusonXT #UFCMexicopic.twitter.com/GL6bQ2Klzh
— #UFC205 (@ufc) November 6, 2016
Thanks.
RDA vs El Cucuy is a gift from the MMA God of war
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) November 6, 2016
@UFC_CA @EliasTheodorou bullshit strategy there's no oxygen in the air up here
— Forrest Griffin (@ForrestGriffin) November 5, 2016
Imagine if I missed weight by 9lbs how differently the media would reacted. Fighter safety should be important to the promoters too
— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) November 5, 2016
And here's Tito being the worst.
.@ChaelSonnen didnt know u were gay.Looking @my crotch 2 see if my zipper was down?I dont swing that way but I have a few friends that do.
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) November 5, 2016
Ugh.
Now I have to be politically correct!! You ppl have no sense of humor!
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) November 5, 2016
Not how this works.
️
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) November 5, 2016
King Mo vs. Phil Davis II is a great fight.
Yall gonna see!!!
— King Mo (@KingMoFH) November 5, 2016
Free agent Lorenz Larkin at Bellator on Friday.
At bellator https://t.co/YKxCA8KRZM
— Lorenz Larkin (@da_MONSOON) November 5, 2016
Like the fight but the UFC doesn't usually like to match guys coming off losses with guys coming off wins.
Hey @MikeMav22 what you got going on January 15th? https://t.co/eyTswuBhDQ
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) November 4, 2016
HUGE #UFC205 #UFCNYC #AndStill .... #joannachampion #joannajedrzejczyk #joannamma #UFC #u… https://t.co/yHBX4U6Ja7 pic.twitter.com/lhNVY1I7Wm
— Joanna Jedrzejczyk (@joannamma) November 4, 2016
USADA better get on that man.
Friday training is always the hardest... Have a great weekend everyone! Bonne fin de semaine à tous!!! pic.twitter.com/MWIVgIACl8
— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) November 4, 2016
Has he broken anyone's jaw? Probably has, I just don't remember it.
I break jaws and I break records and I don't take breaks pic.twitter.com/zZ7aEuJHVF
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 5, 2016
Lol pic.twitter.com/E7d8tYoSl7
— Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) November 6, 2016
Ouch.
Faith @jessievargas_ #LetsGoChamp #TeamChamp #BecomeALegend https://t.co/roVYeaZc5opic.twitter.com/rgkZit3MXB
— Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) November 6, 2016
Hate to ruin it for y'all. I know y'all wish me the worst but that was my boys ticket, I can't stunt like that just yet . Had fun tho pic.twitter.com/uGIaVcZb2a
— Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) November 6, 2016
He's not mad. Actually, he thinks it's funny.
Dude turned back the clock.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Cyril Asker (7-2) vs. Dmitri Smoliakov (8-1); UFC Fight Night 103, January 15.
Viktor Pesta (10-3) vs. Damian Grabowski (20-4); UFC Fight Night 103, January 15.
Joachim Christensen (13-4) vs. Bojan Mihalovic (10-4); UFC Fight Night 103, January 15.
TODAY IN MMA HISTORY
2004: Nate Marquardt became the Pancrase middleweight king for the third time when he defeated Kazuo Misaki via unanimous decision at Pancrase:Brave 10.
2009: Fedor Emelianenko made his Strikeforce debut, knocking out Brett Rogers at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers. In the co-main event Jake Shield won a unanimous decision over Jason Miller to win the vacant middleweight title.
2015: Vitor Belfort knocked out Dan Henderson for the second time with a head kick at UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Hot take: Tony's resume is not "clearly better" than Khabib's if Khabib beats Michael Johnson at 205. Look over their resumes and you'll see they are remarkably similar. Plus Khabib has a little added value in being sort of promised a title shot/being used as leverage. And Khabib is way more popular, which the UFC definitely cares about. That being said, I think we've got ourselves a WW situation here where Ferguson will be given preference over Nurmagomedov like Thompson over Maia. Except what will actually happen is if Conor wins he will fight Nate Diaz again and Ferguson and Khabib will fight for a title shot.
It's fight week everyone! Get hype.
If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and let me know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting because we post dope things and you should enjoy them.