Tony Ferguson Scores Record-Setting Win Over Rafael dos Anjos (UFC Mexico City Results) | MMAWeekly.com

In case his previous record wasn’t enough, Tony Ferguson proved that he is deserving of a title shot after getting the better of Rafael dos Anjos at UFC Fight Night 98 on Saturday night in Mexico City.

Ferguson came into the fight on an eight-fight winning streak, while dos Anjos was fresh off losing the UFC lightweight championship to Eddie Alvarez in July.

The former champ started strong, controlling the pace of the fight for much of the first frame. He opened with strong leg kicks that worked well for him throughout the first frame, and got his jab going late in the round, keeping Ferguson off his game. 

His first round success wouldn’t hold throughout the fight, however, as Ferguson started to fall into a rhythm in the second round. 

RELATED > UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Ferguson Live Results and Fight Stats

While dos Anjos continued to attack in round two, Ferguson slipped and rolled with much of the power being thrown at him, negating most of the damaging effects. In return, he ramped up his own offense, and began landing with some solid combinations that hurt dos Anjos.

Ferguson continued to look good at the beginning of round three, but dos Anjos found his own rhythm midway through the frame and swung the momentum back to his favor. In the final couple of minutes, dos Anjos’ timing took over and he landed several solid combinations and a spinning backfist. 

While dos Anjos continued to attack, Ferguson took control of the fight in the fourth frame. That was when his elusiveness and creativity began to flow. From the beginning of round four, Ferguson increased the accuracy and variety of his strikes, bloodying dos Anjos’ face. dos Anjos dug deep, but slowed visibly as Ferguson continued to walk him down, dictating the pace of the fight and controlling wear it went. 

Ferguson was on cruise control in the final round, continuing to inflict damaging shots on dos Anjos, and moving him around the cage. dos Anjos landed a few one-off strikes, but didn’t have the power to steal the fight from Ferguson.

Neither could find the finish, and the judges scored the fight unanimously in favor of Ferguson, who ran his winning streak to a record nine consecutive fights. Something no other UFC lightweight has done. 

Now, he’ll wait to see what comes next. He’ll certainly be anticipating the outcome of next week’s UFC 205 main event, where Eddie Alvarez puts the lightweight belt on the line against featherweight titleholder Conor McGregor.

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