Tony Ferguson pulled out all the stops to get ready for his fight against Paddy Pimblett at UFC 296, and that included intense training sessions with retired Navy SEAL David Goggins.
As the one-time interim UFC lightweight champion looks to stop a six-fight skid, Ferguson revealed just recently that he began training with Goggins, who works as a coach and motivational speaker as well as an ultra-marathon runner in his spare time.
While Goggins’ credentials are impeccable, Ferguson opting to train with him as he gets ready for a fight in the UFC still left more than a few people scratching their heads. Even UFC color commentator Joe Rogan, who counts Goggins as a friend, questioned if Ferguson training with him would be a “good thing or bad thing” as he prepares to face Pimblett on Saturday.
“That’s the most humbling s***. It was a crazy experience,” Ferguson said about his sessions with Goggins during UFC 296 media day. “I’m grateful.
“Everybody else, f*** you. Being real. Everybody thinks it’s easy. Everybody on f****** Instagram, they can say whatever the f*** they want. They want to train with him. It’s an experience. It’s life-changing s***.”
Ferguson admits that the entire process working with Goggins was relentless, especially as he endured “hell week” with the retired soldier. There were more than a few moments where Ferguson was left questioning himself while struggling to keep food down during some of the intense workouts.
The physicality of the training sessions also pushed Ferguson to get tougher mentally — all of which he expects to benefit him come fight night.
“The reality part, it was hard as f***,” Ferguson said. “One of the hardest things I’ve done in my life. I’m glad I did it. To be real, I didn’t know what chief was about. I really didn’t. I knew that I needed to do it. I showed up, no questions asked. No bulls***. It was always, ‘Yes sir, yes coach.’ It didn’t matter what time it was or what we had to do, no questions. No, ‘How many are we doing? How long are we going to go?’ No, whatever.
“The only question I had was looking at the menu to myself what can I eat to keep the food down. Because I was throwing everything up that week. Once that bulls*** stopped — it didn’t stop for a while — it was just the biggest mental f****** alley-oop that I needed to get my s*** together. I’m very glad for it. Now it’s very cool because yesterday we went to training at the compound and I feel back at home. It was the realest f******* thing and it was what I needed to f****** do this.”
Of course, Pimblett was among those people who questioned Ferguson’s training tactics to get ready for their fight. The always outspoken Liverpool native labeled the partnership “f****** stupid” and doubted it would offer Ferguson any benefit in their fight.
Prior to Ferguson appearing at media day, Pimblett actually paid homage to the veteran lightweight, saying he wanted to see “El Cucuy” get back on track as well, just not at his expense.
Whether it was the statement about training with Goggins or the compliments thrown his way, Ferguson didn’t have time for anything Pimblett said and he had no interest in engaging with him.
“I always have these hashtags so coming after ‘pattycakes’ was pretty easy, especially when he started talking s***,” Ferguson said. “Got the kid nervous. So I think it’s a great matchup. Obviously, he’s got a winning record, I’ve got a losing record right now with that, but overall I have a lot more fights and experience. I’m going to cut this kid.
“He’s a fighter and he’s in my way. I don’t really have too many words for it. The seriousness comes out the closer we get to fight. He’s worried about me blocking him on f****** Instagram and I’m like, you’re a little b****. If you’re going to talk f****** s***, man up and keep your f****** balls between your legs. Don’t drop them like a little b****.”
Despite so much of the conversation surrounding the fight centered on his recent losing streak, Ferguson promises he’s solely focused on dismantling Pimblett in the same way he bloodied up and battered past opponents like Donald Cerrone or Anthony Pettis.
A return to that mindset has Ferguson primed and ready to unleash come Saturday night.
“All of a sudden, I allowed people to want to get in that ring, in that cage [with me],” Ferguson said. “When I started seeing that, I started to accept it. F*** no, I’m back to where the f*** I need to be.
“I’m going to hit him hard. I’m going to set the pace. I’m going to make his face a ketchup sandwich.”