Two thirty-something-year-old Californians on a losing streak seek redemption and an opportunity to keep their UFC contract when they clash on the main card of UFC 291 at Salt Lake City, Utah. Eccentric Tony Ferguson has not won in the UFC since 2019 and is the betting underdog going into this fight against Bobby Green, who has not won in three but saw his hand raised at the start of last year.
MMA: UFC Lightweight
Location: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
Where to watch: PPV
Date: 30.07.2023. 05.30
Tony Ferguson
The veteran American fighter debuted in the UFC at the beginning of the last decade after winning The Ultimate Fighter 13 in 2011. An amateur wrestler at High School and College, the 39-year-old is currently riding a five-fight skid in the promotion stretching back to 2019. Tony Ferguson trained in freestyle wrestling, boxing, jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, and Wing Chun. Before the slump, the California native had been on a record-equaling twelve-fight winning streak. He tied with Khabib Nurmagomedov for the longest win streak in UFC Lightweight division history. To be fair to Tony Ferguson, his losing streak has been against the best fighters in the Lightweight division, including Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Beneil Dariush. His last visit to the Octagon was a submission loss last September to Nate Diaz in a Welterweight contest.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 39
- Height: 6’ 0”
- Reach: 76.5”
- Record: 26-8
When you fight top dogs like that, they’re all killers. So many people will say, ‘Oh, he’s coming off five losses.’ Those are the world’s best. We’re talking about the world’s best.
Bobby Green
American Bobby Green debuted in the UFC in February 2013 against Jacob Volkmann and recorded four consecutive wins to announce himself in the promotion. Born in California, the 36-year-old has been fighting professionally since 2008 and is the former Lightweight champion at King of the Cage and the Junior Welterweight champion. Following his four initial wins in the promotion, Bobby Green went on a run of 1-6 that set the tone for the rest of his career. His last fight was an NC against Jared Gordon last April.
You never want to take him lightly, you know. People are like, ‘Oh, he’s done.’ No. It’s the way the chips fell. Some guys will fight a tough road, some guys an easy one, and Tony’s fought the tough one.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 39
- Height: 5’ 10”
- Reach: 71”
- Record: 2914-2 (1NC, 1 Draw)
Betting Odds
Tony Ferguson is a massive underdog in this fight, with the sportsbooks not enthused that he will overcome his slump. He is priced at 3.86 odds on 1XBET, with the favorite at 1.25. Yes, for Fight to Go to the Distance is priced at 1.80 odds, and No, at 1.86 odds on Bet365. 2.30 odds is the price for Green to win by KO, TKO DQ, or submission on Marathonbet, and the draw is 51 odds.
