Crap Is Strong — But So Is ‘El Cucuy’

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

“I feel strong as sh*t. I’m ready for this one.” —Tony Ferguson

Tony Ferguson and Michael Chiesa have a lot in common.

Both combatants captured the glass trophy on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) reality show and went on to rack up impressive wins at 155 pounds before moving up to welterweight. That decision will allow “El Cucuy” to stop “killing himself” before each fight.

Sometimes twice, just to prove a point.

“It made more sense for me, instead of killing myself and trying to make 155 pounds where I’m losing all this energy and I’m being drained, is to wrestle my natural weight which I won nationals in college at 165,” Ferguson told Hosheh MMA. “Now I’m trying to fight back at my high school weight, which doesn’t make any (expletive) sense. So a lot of you guys that are cutting weight trying to make lighter weight, it’s not going to go easier or harder because if you’re competing at a certain weight where you’re killing yourself, you could be killing yourself making weight at your natural weight and being stronger at that one, so I’m back at 170 pounds. I’m about ... maybe less than 10 pounds over right now. I feel strong as sh*t. I’m ready for this one.”

Ferguson (25-10) is looking to snap a dreadful seven-fight losing streak, having recently come up short against Paddy Pimblett at UFC 296 late last year. As for Chiesa (16-7), four years younger than “El Cucuy” at 36, he’s dropped three in a row dating back to summer 2021, getting submitted twice in the process.

“I’m gonna outwork you, I’m gonna punch you, you’re gonna shoot in, I’m gonna choke you out,” Ferguson said in a message to Chiesa. “With Paddy, I shouldn’t have let him up. I had too many people telling me the wrong sh*t when I know damn well exactly that I have the compass to get to where I need to go. I have nothing against you Michael Chiesa but I’m gonna bring the fight to you. I’m not gonna give you any time to breathe and I hope your conditioning is really good. I know you got a fancy new camp where you’re getting your strength and conditioning but I’ve been all the way around in this sh*t and I’m a national champ from Grand Valley State University so if you wanna wrestle, I’m right here baby.”

Ferguson and Chiesa, who collide on the UFC Abu Dhabi main card this weekend on ABC, were originally booked to throw down in July 2016; however, a back injury forced “Maverick” to the sidelines.