Tony Ferguson - top 5 lightweight in UFC history?

GSP1978

GSP1978

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Jed Meshew at MMAFighting wrote today that Tony Ferguson is a top 5 lightweight in UFC history:

"I believe Tony Ferguson is one of the top-5 lightweights ever and based on his accomplishments, should be regarded as a top-5 P4P fighter in the world right now. In another world could easily have been champion, but in this world, he’s a slow starter who is very hittable and relies on otherworldly cardio and self-belief to outlast opponents, and that doesn’t match up all that well against the mentally strong and offensively potent forces that populate the top of the division right now."

https://www.mmafighting.com/2020/4/...alling-out-and-jon-jones-place-in-mma-history

I can't but wonder how a guy whose signature wins are Anthony Pettis and Rafael dos Anos, with only an interim title win over an infected Kevin Lee and no defenses, is considered top 5. Then you look at the short list of champions and he might have a point:

1. BJ Penn
2. Khabib Nurmagomedov
3. Frankie Edgar
4. Benson Henderson.

5.??? Tony Ferguson? Donald Cerrone? Nate Diaz?

As for top-5 P4P in the world - that is a huge stretch.
 
Yes.

With that said he was lucky to beat diseased Lee and is ducking Khabib like crazy. Far superior to Caner. Def top 5. So is Bendo imo.
 
GSP1978 said:
Jed Meshew at MMAFighting wrote today that Tony Ferguson is a top 5 lightweight in UFC history:

"I believe Tony Ferguson is one of the top-5 lightweights ever and based on his accomplishments, should be regarded as a top-5 P4P fighter in the world right now. In another world could easily have been champion, but in this world, he’s a slow starter who is very hittable and relies on otherworldly cardio and self-belief to outlast opponents, and that doesn’t match up all that well against the mentally strong and offensively potent forces that populate the top of the division right now."

https://www.mmafighting.com/2020/4/...alling-out-and-jon-jones-place-in-mma-history

I can't but wonder how a guy whose signature wins are Anthony Pettis and Rafael dos Anos, with only an interim title win over an infected Kevin Lee and no defenses, is considered top 5. Then you look at the short list of champions and he might have a point:

1. BJ Penn
2. Khabib Nurmagomedov
3. Frankie Edgar
4. Benson Henderson.

5.??? Tony Ferguson? Donald Cerrone? Nate Diaz?

As for top-5 P4P in the world - that is a huge stretch.
Click to expand...
Khabib at #2? Just like Tony, Khabib only has like 3 big wins. Dos Anjos, Conor, and Poirier. Khabib won his title over Iaquinta. No doubt in my mind Tony murders Iaquinta too. They are neck and neck.
 
Absolutely he is.
If you go on a streak as he has in the most stacked division in the UFC, you're one of the best the division has ever seen.

I have no problem saying that the winner of Khabib vs. Ferg is the greatest LW all time.
 
It’s not all about defending the title. Ferg has some great wins and usually wins via finish after drowning his opponent. Lightweight is the hardest division to go on a long streak.
 
He’s either #1 or #2 between him and Khabib

sadly that may never get sorted out
 
Ûdun Ghuephd said:
Yes.

With that said he was lucky to beat diseased Lee and is ducking Khabib like crazy. Far superior to Caner. Def top 5. So is Bendo imo.
Click to expand...
Tony is ducking Khabib... you’re a little on the spectrum I take it
 
beephin said:
Absolutely he is.
If you go on a streak as he has in the most stacked division in the UFC, you're one of the best the division has ever seen.

I have no problem saying that the winner of Khabib vs. Ferg is the greatest LW all time.
Click to expand...

I don't necessarily disagree, but one point of debate is measuring a win vs a loss. For example, if Ferguson is winning against lesser fighters like Mike Rio, Danny Castillo and Lando Vannata, while Frankie Edgar was fighting champions like Benson and Henderson and Gray Maynard with more losses.

While any significant win streak in the UFC is impressive, I think quality of opponent, even resulting in losses, can be just as impressive, though harder to measure.
 
He's definitely top 5, I think only Khabib and Penn are above him, I don't really see a strong argument for anyone else.
 
Dos Anjos win improves his resume.

I'd still have Nurmagomedov, Poirier and Alvarez ahead, but yeah, Ferguson is a fair top 5 pick. Skillwise on the other hand, no.
 
Comparing titles is difficult because it is varyingly difficult to win the belt in different eras. For example, i think if bj and khabib fought at the same time as khabib and tony have, bj would never touch the belt. Khabib would destroy him.
 
Of course he is. #2 in fact imo

And he’s never once fought a conservative fight. Balls to the wall. He might be my favorite fighter of all time.
 
Def not top 5, he hasn't even won the belt yet. Nor is there any promise that he will obtain the belt while in the UFC at LW. He really doesn't have the strength of schedule (opponents), has losses in his prime to lesser opponents, and has looked rather beatable in fights vs Castillo, Lando, Lee and Pettis. He is a very good fighter, but to say top 3, even 5, is far off.. top 7-10 is more likely in the UFC, and top 11-15 in the LW division of MMA in regards to p4p and GOAT.
Khabib
Edgar
Penn
Pulver
Sherk
*Benson would be 6
 
stipeszn said:
Comparing titles is difficult because it is varyingly difficult to win the belt in different eras. For example, i think if bj and khabib fought at the same time as khabib and tony have, bj would never touch the belt. Khabib would destroy him.
Click to expand...

But you have to compare a fighter to his era. The sport moves quickly. Tony and Khabib have had the benefit of learning and evolving with the sport. All the early champions would get smoked by the current champions but that's a fact in every aspect of sports and life.

Comparing 2006 BJ Penn to 2020 Khabib would be as ridiculous as comparing 2006 Penn to 2006 Khabib, two years before his first professional fight.
 
I'm more so wondering who the hell actually considers Nate Diaz a top 5 LW?Top 15 maybe.

Ferguson I'll put in the category of top 5 UFC LW right around 5.
 
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