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Tony Ferguson has opened up on his brutal knockout defeat by Michael Chandler at UFC 274 last weekend, revealing he suffered a “scary” bout of memory loss.
“El Cucuy” was up on all three of the judges’ scorecards following the first round, but got caught with a fight-ending front kick almost immediately in the second round.
The loss was Ferguson’s third in a row, a skid that has come after a record 11-fight win streak in the UFC lightweight division, but the American remained upbeat in an Instagram post on Thursday.
“I took a big kick to the dome this past Saturday inside that Octagon. It put me out for a long time,” Ferguson wrote.

“It was a scary feeling not remembering anything from beginning of second round all the way until I walked up to the ambulance. I thank God every day I made the trip back to reality.
“All jokes aside, I didn’t mean to scare you all, should have done things different like keep my ‘hands up and chin down’.”
UFC: McGregor accuses ‘absolute clown’ Gaethje of ‘pretending to sleep’
In the aftermath of the loss, UFC president Dana White suggested the former interim lightweight champ should “take some time off”. But Ferguson said he had been cleared was “ready to learn again”.
“I’m beyond grateful my movements are OK, my bones are intact and except for a slight headache in the mornings I’m glad to be back and doing what I love,” he added.
“I want to be better than yesterday for sure, not for anyone else but for me.”

The 38-year-old American said he was also finally ready to watch the fight back for the first time, and he thanked his fans for their support.
“My fault I lost, props to Chandler for the highlight-reel finish. I have many things to work on, not just competing,” he said in his post.
“One battle at a time. I’m not perfect by any means, but I’ll continue to strive for it in and out of the practice room (perfection: an unobtainable goal).
“Someone wise once told me ‘perfect practice makes perfect’. There’s always more to learn and being coachable is big. Making good adjustments daily, and will continue to do so.”


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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

UFC: Tony Ferguson reveals ‘scary’ memory loss, opens up on Michael Chandler KO

Michael Chandler knocks out Tony Ferguson with a front kick at UFC 274. Photo: USA TODAY Sports

Tony Ferguson falls to the mat after being knocked out by a front kick from Michael Chandler at UFC 274. Photo: USA TODAY Sports

Michael Chandler gets his hand raised after knocking out Tony Ferguson at UFC 274. Photo: USA TODAY Sports

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Carla Esparza (left) and Joanna Jedrzejczyk face off during the UFC 185 weigh-ins in Dallas in 2015. Photo: Getty Images

Carla Esparza celebrates after her victory over Rose Namajunas in their strawweight championship bout during UFC 274 in Phoenix. Photo: AFP

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Irish mixed martial arts artist Conor McGregor attends the 2020 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Photo: AFP

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Charles Oliveira celebrates his victory against Justin Gaethje at UFC 274 at Footprint Center. Photo: USA TODAY Sports

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Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


‘El Cucuy’ thanks fans for their support after devastating defeat by Michael Chandler, which left him with ‘slight headaches in the mornings’
‘It was a scary feeling not remembering anything from beginning of second round all the way until I walked up to the ambulance,’ Ferguson says



Tony Ferguson details effects of devastating knockout at UFC 274, admitting he ‘couldn’t remember anything’ ‘until I walked up to the ambulance’.


Tony Ferguson