Ex-Champ Reportedly Leaves UFC, Signs with MMA’s Newest Promotion

The GFL has announced they have signed former UFC Interim Champion Tony Ferguson.
Jerry Lai-Imagn Images

After 11 years and 24 fights under the UFC banner, Tony Ferguson is apparently moving on from the Octagon.

Many wondered what the future would look like for the former UFC interim lightweight champion, not having won since 2019, his last victory a TKO-stoppage over Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone. Ferguson's career hit a bit of a crossroads following his latest fight, where he suffered his eighth consecutive loss to Michael Chiesa at UFC Abu Dhabi in August.

Ferguson semi-retired from the UFC then and there, laying one glove down instead of the usual two that signifies a fighter's retirement.

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GFL Signs Tony Ferguson

Six months later and with no UFC fight announcements for Ferguson, the Global Fight League (GFL), a new MMA promotion that has signed dozens of ex-UFC fighters, announced on Friday that Ferguson was among the recent signees.

Considered one of the greatest lightweights of all time for his 12-fight tear through the division, Ferguson will compete at welterweight (170lbs) - the same weight class as when he won Season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter.

Former UFC Champion Tony Ferguson
Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

The GFL isn't your normal MMA promotion, the new player investing in a draft format which begins today. Out of 420+ fighters, only 120 will be selected for a spot on 6 global teams. We'll see where each fighter lands soon enough, including 32-year-old UFC veteran Kevin Lee, a former foe of Ferguson's.

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There are still questions about the legitimacy of the GFL, as the new promotion previously announced signings of several fighters who they never signed in the first place.

As of this writing, Tony Ferguson has not commented on the news of his signing.

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Christopher De Santiago
CHRISTOPHER DE SANTIAGO

Christopher De Santiago is a 22 year-old journalist from Gainesville, Texas with years of experience covering MMA.