Tony Ferguson is one of the top ranked lightweights in t🐼he UFC and if he defeats former UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC Fight Night 99, he could be in line for a lightweight title shot.
However, becoming champion is not the main goal for Ferguson -- making as much money as he can for his family is his moti꧟vation.
“It does [bring along a lot more money], but I’m not hurting,” he said to . “My wife has a great job. I have a greatꦬ, phenomenal job. And you know what? Even if I were to walk away right now and go into the contracting business, I’d probably make more money than I am right now. The best thing about it is, I’m able to support myself in many more ways than one. I don’t know how many fighters would even do that. I♋ don’t need to keep my name out there by talking [expletive] and by trying to bring myself down to their level. My interviews are pretty much heated all the time, only because when people give me those questions, I’m a blue-chip athlete. I’m a blue-chip athlete who comes from an academic background. I use my head. I’m not just a knucklehead.”
Ferguson knows that he can'🔯t make money unless he c🦂ontinues improving his skills in the cage, while also winning fights at the same time.
“If my concern was getting a shot at the belt as soon as possible, I’d probably be [angry],” he said. “I’m more interested in receiving my black belt from Eddie Bravo’s 10th Planet jiu-jitsu system than the UFC belt right now. The [UFC] belt is tarnished, man. I feel like the belt has been in so many different hands, it’s so polluted. It needs to be recycled by the time I get there. I think everybody wants me to geꦫt the title, but for me, I don’t do what everybody else wants me to do. I’m a leader, not a follower, man. I’m a super fighter. I create super fights. The people who actually give me the righteous fights are the ones who are going to be the best for me, give or take whether it’s a title fight. I really don’t give a [expletive]. I really don’t.”
For a fighter who is interested in making money more than becoming a champion, Ferguson decided to handle his own strength and conditioni𒆙ng, saving the fighter some greenꦗbacks.
“Dude, I know exactly what I’m doing and how to do it and how my body works,” he said. “When I go to a new place, sometimes they don’t help. They don’t have that experience with me. I’ll roll my🔜 eyes sometimes, though I’ll still do t🌟he drills. I’ll spend $1,000 on 20 sessions and I’ll only use half, because I know I have to do something better.”
UFC Fight Night 98 will take place on Saturday, November 5th from the Mexico City Arena in Mexico City, Mexico with Tony Ferguson and Rafae🙈l Dos A⛎njos headlining.
