El Cucuy chases biggest comeback of all at UFC 256

Any horror film lover is aware of that the slasher does not die the primary time he is knocked out.

MMA’s reply to a horror slasher is El Cucuy, UFC’s personal Boogeyman Tony Ferguson. Ferguson is thought to shed extra blood than Voorhees and roll extra cube than Krueger. And do not even hassle to run. El Cucuy will hold shifting ahead and he’ll break your will to maintain combating.

Tony Ferguson is thought for lots of issues: tremendous entertaining fights, Writing in all caps simply because, Ferguson’s random feats, and of course refusing to die irrespective of what number of weapons his goal throws at him.

In the UFC, we had by no means seen anybody sideline Tony Ferguson. In 2012, Michael Johnson got here out of his battle in opposition to Ferguson with a victory, however neither he nor the 12 opponents who got here after had been in a position to hold The Boogeyman down, and every of them died delightfully.

During UFC Fight Night 91, Lando Vannata stepped in on brief discover and had Ferguson on the brink of loss of life with a lot of heavy photographs within the first spherical, together with a clear kick, however Ferguson would come again and declare the submission victory. .

At UFC 217, Kevin Lee handed Ferguson and dominated the opening spherical with a dismemberment assault that might have left a lesser man demoralized, however El Cucuy got here again stronger and compelled Lee to give up.

At UFC 229, Anthony Pettis let Tony Ferguson down with a devastating proper hook adopted by subsequent punches that shattered and shocked Ferguson, however as soon as once more Ferguson would show that blood solely makes him stronger, and this prompted him to make a sanguineous incentive of his personal in one more chopping again.

And because the comebacks and killings of Tony Ferguson’s 12-game profitable streak have piled up, so too has the anticipation of whether or not The Boogeyman may strangle the Untouchable: Khabib Nurmagomedov.

The desperation of MMA followers to see a Khabib vs. Ferguson battle is properly documented. It’s a dream battle that lasted 5 years and 5 cancellations. Much just like the horror monster and El Cucuy himself, the battle stored resurrecting irrespective of what number of instances he died. MMA followers’ hope continued to undergo insufferable accidents, however he additionally raised the lifeless each time the battle was booked and grew up with nervous anticipation as they watched the times draw nearer to the battle. But at UFC 249, each El Cucuy’s streak of not being knocked out and the hope of a series-versus-streak model of Khabib / Ferguson in the end suffered deadly blows.

On May 9, 2020, Justin Gaethje entered the Octagon as a Man on a Mission. And when he did what Ferguson’s earlier 12 opponents could not defeat El Cucuy, it might have additionally killed any battle hope MMA followers had been clamoring for. Or possibly not. Because very similar to an injured Jason Voorhees, it will be reckless to imagine The Boogeyman is really over simply because he is briefly down. And along with his resurrection, he may convey Khabib vs. Ferguson again from the grave with him.

Khabib vs. Ferguson is greater than a battle. He took his personal life… a combating Frankenstein, a monster born from the imaginations of battle followers who grew in power with every addition to their kill record. Khabib vs Ferguson has come again from loads: tiramisu, damaged ribs, bloody lungs, even wire ropes, however now he is going through the 2 biggest hits in his historical past: a loss and a retirement. When Tony Ferguson enters the Octagon in opposition to Charles Oliveira at UFC 256, he has an opportunity of producing the remedy for each accidents.

One of the explanations Khabib has mentioned he’ll now not compete is the dearth of new challengers. In specific he already cites the loss of Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier, who will seem within the alleged No.1 battle at UFC 257. But what Khabib can, by his personal admission, overlook is that if Tony Ferguson will get again into the combo. . Khabib is aware of all too properly what a victory at a Tony Ferguson summit would do for his legacy. So whereas Ferguson’s loss to Gaethje could have killed the prospect of a streak-for-streak showdown, the battle itself will not be lifeless but.

If Tony Ferguson comes out and scores a powerful victory over a worthy opponent in Charles Oliveira, you’ll be able to guess Khabib will watch. And we already know who Tony Ferguson shall be calling after the battle. Dana White and the UFC would have their choice for a Khabib / McGregor rematch, however the one factor the UFC desires greater than this battle could be any Khabib battle if the choice is not at all. This would subsequently persuade Khabib to finish his retirement.

How poetic wouldn’t it be for Khabib to run 30-0 in what remains to be arguably essentially the most desired battle in MMA historical past? Are you telling me Khabib would not take into account this if Ferguson obtained a win this Saturday?

Perhaps the final hurdle could be when Mother Nurmagomedov provides him her blessing. Khabib could have to have one other coronary heart to coronary heart along with his mother in hopes of reviving Khabib in opposition to Ferguson as soon as once more. Again, possibly not. Maybe Khabib is basically past perception at this level and will formally depart the title at any time. But there’s one factor I’m certain: you’ll be able to by no means say by no means on this sport. Indeed, the MMA monster that’s Khabib in opposition to Ferguson may come again to life. It could take The Boogeyman to bounce again from his first TKO loss with a win this Saturday to result in maybe the biggest comeback in MMA historical past: Khabib’s last resurrection from Ferguson.