Daniel Cormier doesn’t see Tony Ferguson’s losing streak ending anytime soon should he continue to compete.

UFC 279 provided the MMA world with one of the most unforgettable fight weeks in recent memory. From press conference shenanigans and weight misses to fight changes, there was a little bit of everything. On fight night, fans were left with a matchup that’s been a long time coming, seeing Ferguson square off with Nate Diaz.

Unfortunately for Ferguson, he was unable to snap a four-fight skid, succumbing to Diaz via fourth-round guillotine submission. Despite moving up to fight at welterweight for the first time since his promotional debut, it wouldn't be enough for Ferguson to turn back the clock. Leading up to the finish, many in the community had Ferguson down on the cards and sitting cageside providing commentary, Cormier just didn’t see the “El Cucuy” he’d grown accustomed to.

“I could not believe what I was seeing,” Cormier said on DC & RC. “I’m not saying it was the worst fight of all time, not by any stretch of the imagination. It tells me that Nate Diaz still has a little bit left in the tank if he wants to fight, but it also tells me Tony Ferguson is done as a guy that I’ve seen in the octagon. Tony Ferguson is done, bro. He is a shell of himself and he doesn’t want to retire. He actually said he feels like he got better, he saw some good things. I’m like what did he do in there to show that he’s better than he was prior?”

Cormier was critical of Ferguson’s willingness to continue fighting following his previous knockout loss to Michael Chandler this past May. Therefore, prompting Ferguson to fire back at Cormier as the two exchanged some verbal jabs over social media.

Meanwhile, Diaz is officially set to depart from the UFC and go about his business as he pleases. With Diaz originally set to face Khamzat Chimaev in the main event, the last-minute shakeups from Chimaev’s weight miss led to Ferguson’s opponent, Li Jingliang, taking on Daniel Rodriguez.

Cormier is uncertain who the promotion could match Ferguson with at this stage which gives him a reasonable chance to win. Assuming the Li matchup happened as planned, the former two-division titleholder feels an even worse beatdown would have been in store for Ferguson.

“That’s what stands out the most to me,” Cormier said. “Like, Nate Diaz can do whatever he wants. For Nate Diaz, not fighting Khamzat was a gift from god. That is literally best-case scenario for him. But you know what the crazy thing about Tony Ferguson to me ... is that it wasn’t a gradual decline. It was like he got to the edge of the cliff and just fell off the cliff. It was Justin Gaethje then that was it.

“The moment he was done [was] that interim title fight — he wasn’t as good. Granted, he lost to Beneil Dariush and Charles Oliveira so you go, ‘Well, he’s fighting the best in the world.’ But now we got to see him fight Nate Diaz who’s not the best in the world right now. Nate will tell you he’s the best in the world, but he didn’t do great against Nate.”

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VIDEO STEW

Presser Day 2.

Presser Day 2 staredown.

Presser Day 2 interviews.

UFC 280 trailer.

A Diaz fairytale.

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LISTEN UP

Fighter vs. Writer. MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin chats with Tyron Woodley.

Heck of a Morning. MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck chats with Tanner Boser and discusses what’s next for Khamzat Chimaev after UFC 279.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

No nonsense.

Bully breakdown.

Leech love.

Throwback.

Sniper in and out of the cage.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sodiq Yusuff (12-2) vs. Don Shainis (13-3); UFC Vegas 61, Oct. 1

Julio Arce (18-5) vs. Montel Jackson (11-2); UFC 281, Nov. 12

Jared Cannonier (15-6) vs. Sean Strickland (24-5); UFC Fight Night, Dec. 17

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FINAL THOUGHTS

If Ferguson wasn’t stuck between two really tough divisions, I may be inclined to disagree with DC here. I thought he actually did better against Diaz than most did, but it was still an incredibly telling performance of where he now stands.

Thanks for reading!

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