The UFC Abu Dhabi main card filled out this morning with Dana White taking to social media to announce the card. Amongst the fights that were announced was a five-round co-main event between Nick Diaz and Vicente Luque. In addition to that fight, White also announced the return of a former interim champion.
Former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson (25-10) will return at UFC Abu Dhabi on August 3rd when he takes on Michael Chiesa (16-7). Both of these men are riding extended losing streaks so they both need a win in the worst way.
Starting with Chiesa, he’s lost three fights in a row. After having a ton of success and winning four in a row after he moved to welterweight from lightweight, Chiesa hit a wall. First, he was submitted by Vicente Luque. Then, he lost a decision to Sean Brady.
Most recently, he fought Kevin Holland last July at UFC 291. Holland lit Chiesa up on the feet before submitting him in the first round. It wasn’t clear whether or not Chiesa would fight again after the loss. Considering he’s fighting El Cucuy, it might be a retirement fight for the loser.
UFC Abu Dhabi
From 2013 to 2019, you could make the argument that Tony Ferguson was the best lightweight in the UFC. He went a perfect 12-0 and held wins over the likes of Edson Barboza, Rafael Dos Anjos, Anthony Pettis, and Donald Cerrone.
He was set to fight for the undisputed title against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 249 and then the pandemic hit. Ferguson ended up fighting Justin Gaethje for the interim title and Ferguson was stopped in the fifth round. That loss would start a very long and extended losing streak.
Most recently, Ferguson lost a decision to Paddy Pimblett at UFC 296. That loss was Ferguson’s seventh straight defeat. Dana White didn’t seem thrilled with the idea of giving Ferguson another fight, but he’s getting one. Ferguson is facing a very tough challenge in Chiesa and if he loses, it’ll be eight in a row.