Tony Ferguson's an artist, combat is his easel.
'El Cucuy' has a massive weekend ahead of him. The number two-ranked 155-er in the world takes on undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov in the people's main event of UFC 209, and the stakes couldn't be higher.
To the victor goes the spoils of the interim lightweight strap which could potentially result in a unification bout against the biggest superstar in the sport, Conor McGregor. Even if 'the Notorious' continues his tradition of failing to defend his throne, the prospect of being upgraded to full champion of the promotion's most populated division should fill the 'Red Panty Night' void.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/837348030944772096
With no fighter being able to find the answer to Nurmagomedov's elite grappling prowess so far, some have been mislabeling this bout with the hackneyed and outdated 'striker vs grappler' tag. The truth is both fighter's have so much more to offer than those little boxes suggest.
You can't ignore Nurmagomedov's awkward, odd-timed striking game in the same way you can't forget about Ferguson's incredible ground game. While these tools may not necessarily be the decisive ones in the bout, we can't just decide that they don't exist.
At the official open workouts ahead of the event, Ferguson put on a dazzling display of agility, improvisation and sheer artistry that will give you an idea of why analysts rave about the insane things he pulls off on his feet inside the Octagon.
https://twitter.com/TheJivemaster/status/837349342143000576
The only props he brought with him to show off his skill-set were a band and a stick, but what he showcased with such a minimal amount to work with was very impressive.
All the fundamentals were there - shadowboxing, footwork, head movement etc, but it was his unconventional execution which often involved acrobatics and even break-dancing techniques that caused a few gasps amongst those in attendance.
Check out MMA Fighting's footage of the workout below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKIter1hPYs
