What do Tony Ferguson's last fights tell us about his chances against Paddy Pimblett? Breaking down his most recent wars

Tony Ferguson is a former UFC interim lightweight champion and one of the greatest 155-pounders to have never won undisputed gold. At one point in time, he was helming the most terrifying win streak in the division, leaving his opponents beaten, bloodied, and broken. Now, in 2023, he's a shell of his former self.

He is no longer the same 'El Cucuy' who once struck fear in the hearts of other lightweights. Instead, he is on a disastrous six-fight losing streak, just shy of matching the longest losing streak in UFC history, which is seven, and held by B.J. Penn. So, what does this all mean for Tony Ferguson's chances against Paddy Pimblett?

The pair is scheduled to fight at UFC 296, in a bout that is undoubtedly a showcase for Pimblett, given Ferguson's lackluster run of form since 2020. When his 12-fight win streak came to an end, he was only losing to the very best that the division had to offer, like Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Beneil Dariush.

Gaethje is a former interim lightweight champion, the current 'BMF' titleholder, and has knocked out Dustin Poirier in his last fight. Meanwhile, Charles Oliveira is a former undisputed champion, who is off the heels of a dominant TKO win over Beneil Dariush, who was on an eight-fight win streak.

However, after them, Tony Ferguson lost to the likes of Michael Chandler, Nate Diaz, and Bobby Green. While Michael Chandler is a dangerous fighter and a former three-time Bellator lightweight champion, he had just one UFC win prior to facing Ferguson and was on a two-fight losing streak.

Similarly, Nate Diaz was on a massive decline, and also on a two-fight losing streak before facing him. Bobby Green, however, is a far lesser fighter. He was and remains unranked. Furthermore, he was on a winless run of three fights, losing two and getting one no-contest, prior to fighting Ferguson.

Not only did Bobby Green beat Tony Ferguson, but he submitted him as well. The fact that a Brazilian jiu-jitsu purple belt, who isn't known for his grappling, managed to submit a man once hailed as the greatest grappling threat to Khabib Nurmagomedov, is telling.

If Tony Ferguson has declined to the point of losing to the unranked Bobby Green, especially via submission, his chances do not bode well against Paddy Pimblett. Age and the damage he's absorbed throughout the years have caught up to him in a massive way, and Ferguson will be a footnote in Pimblett's win at UFC 296.