Chandler knocks out Ferguson in Phoenix
PHOENIX » Just like that, out of nowhere, Michael Chandler put a stamp on his place in the lightweight division.
The former Bellator great delivered a stunning front-kick knockout of Tony Ferguson early in the second round to bring the crowd to its feet at UFC 274 on Saturday at Footprint Center.
Chandler (23-7) did a little crow hop and came forward. Ferguson put out his right hand and Chandler drove his right foot straight up into Ferguson’s jaw. The former interim lightweight champion went down like a tree and referee Jason Herzog stopped the fight just 17 seconds into the second round.
Ferguson was out and on his back and tended to by medical personnel for a few minutes before rising under his own power.
Chandler, 36, afterward called out the UFC 274 main-event fighters – former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira a year ago and former lightweight interim champion Justin Gaethje in November – who were responsible for him being on a two-fight losing streak. He also offered to be the comeback opponent for Conor McGregor at welterweight.
Ferguson (26-8) was sharp on his feet in the opening round, scoring a knockdown and faring better.
Chandler stormed in with a takedown about halfway through the round, but “El Cucuy,” always active on his back, was aggressive with elbows.
Ferguson, 38, has now four in a row after amassing 12 consecutive victories, albeit all the defeats were against elite 155-pounders.
Two of the losses came to Oliveira and Gaethje.
The skid has been one-sided though. In the three previous losses, out of nine judges over 11 rounds, Ferguson was credited with winning just two rounds. He lost all three rounds unanimously to Beneil Dariush a year ago, all three rounds unanimously to Oliveira in December 2020, and was trailing badly on the scorecards two years ago before Gaethje won via TKO late in the fifth and final round.