Tony Ferguson's 5 best UFC fights

#4: vs. Rafael Dos Anjos – UFC Fight Night 98 – 11/05/2016

Ferguson broke Rafael Dos Anjos in Mexico City

After the prospective Nurmagomedov fight fell through again in early 2016, Ferguson was matched with Michael Chiesa in the summer, but was forced instead to deal with late replacement Lando Vannata in an exciting fight. With that done, the Chiesa fight disappeared from view, and was replaced by something much bigger – a match with former UFC Lightweight champ Rafael Dos Anjos.

Dos Anjos had lost his title earlier in the year to Eddie Alvarez in somewhat of an upset, and so a fight with Ferguson promised a potential ticket directly back to a title shot. But of course, ‘El Cucuy’ had other ideas, and the prospect of fighting his toughest opponent to date didn’t seem to faze him at all.

Nor did the fact that the fight was to take place in Mexico City – notorious for its cardio-sapping high altitude. Indeed, it was Ferguson’s incredible stamina that allowed him to win the fight. ‘RDA’ actually came out stronger to begin with, landing the better strikes throughout the exchanges in the first round. But that was all the success that the Brazilian would see in the fight.

Ferguson settled into a rhythm during the second round and didn’t really let up from there, pushing a hellacious pace that RDA tried – and failed – to keep up with.

Combination after combination landed for ‘El Cucuy’ with Dos Anjos simply unable to handle his movement, speed and use of angles, and unable to take him down, either.

Although he couldn’t put the former champion away, by the time the five rounds were up, it was clear that Dos Anjos was both exhausted and beaten. Not only had Ferguson defeated the Brazilian, but it was arguably his career-best performance, too.