Just over a week on from some troubling legal issues, UFC veteran Tony Ferguson (25-8) has his return set.
Ferguson, winner of The Ultimate Fighter 13 in 2011 and a former interim lightweight titleholder, hit the headlines recently after being arrested for misdemeanor DUI having crashed his truck outside a Hollywood club.
Despite that incident, in which he was reported to have smelt of alcohol, refused a sobriety test, and acted in an uncooperative manner towards law enforcement, Ferguson has a fight to prepare for.
On Tuesday, UFC President Dana White went live with a host of major announcements. He detailed more of the promotion’s summer schedule, including the full main card for the UFC 291 pay-per-view set for Salt Lake City on July 29.
In addition to Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje headlining for the ‘BMF’ title and Alex Pereira making his light heavyweight debut, Ferguson will make the walk to the cage for the first time in 2023 to face fellow fan-favorite vet Bobby Green (29-14-1, 1 NC).
Full UFC 291 lineup, per White:
– Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje 2
– Jan Blachowicz vs. Alex Pereira at 205
– Paulo Costa vs. Ikram Aliskerov
– Tony Ferguson vs. Bobby Green
– Michael Chiesa vs. Kevin Holland— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) May 16, 2023
The booking marks a return to lightweight for “El Cucuy” following a one-and-done visit to the 170-pound division, where he was submitted by Nate Diaz in the UFC 279 main event last September.
Ferguson will look to snap his five-fight losing skid at the expense of Green, who has gone winless across his last three outings.
Following consecutive knockout losses to Islam Makhachev and Drew Dober, “King” had his woes compounded when a headbutt led to a no contest against Jared Gordon at UFC Fight Night: Pavlovich vs. Blaydes last month.
