Tony Ferguson Happy with Performance at Welterweight: ‘It’s A Different Me Out There’

For the most part, Tony Ferguson with pleased with his performance against Nate Diaz in the UFC 279 headliner on Saturday night.

There was one exception, however. “El Cucuy” regrets the takedown attempt that led to him being caught in the fight-ending guillotine 2:52 into the fourth round of their welterweight bout at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

“My corner went for the shot, but should’ve kept it standing,” Ferguson said at the UFC 279 post-fight press conference. “Little details to expand on and to grow from. Nate is a game fighter. I can’t say anything else. It’s not like he’s old and slow and stuff. Hopefully, the crowd that was at UFC 279 there present got some blood splattered on them or something. I had fun in there.

“I guarantee you Nate was looking for that guillotine the whole entire camp,” Ferguson added. “They had a full camp to be able to do stuff. It is what you practice. We did a lot of wrestling practice and we did a lot of good stuff. It was just unfortunate, s—t happens. I wish it would have made it to the fifth round. I know what to do better next time. It f—-ing sucks.”

It was Ferguson’s first appearance at 170 pounds since competing on “The Ultimate Fighter 13” more than a decade ago. The former interim lightweight champ says the transition to a heavier weight class felt good — both during the process and in the Octagon.

“I hang my hat at two different places besides home – at 155 and at 70,” Ferguson said. “At 70, it’s been like, what, 10-11 years? I mean, s—t, I was 14-2 with mostly knockouts? My body literally just got used to it. I fought in May. I lifted heavy. I was taking some weight-gainer protein, doing it right. … I enjoyed it. My fans, the supporters, family and fans first.

It’s a different me out there, and it’s a different me right now.”

That in part contributed to Ferguson feeling rejuventated despite suffering his fifth consecutive defeat in UFC competition. In this case, it’s the experience that matters, and Ferguson plans to keep on moving forward.

“I haven’t had a fight like that ever. It was the coolest experience I probably could have had being in front of everybody, being the most calm, super chill, bringing it out there,” he said. “...It’s seeing the crowd, seeing everybody that was right there, it was dope. It felt like it was back where I needed to be. I haven’t felt like that for a f—-ing long time. Mentally strong, physically strong, emotionally strong. I feel good. I’m ready for the next one.”