Tony Ferguson left, UFC President Dana White center and UFC No. 9 Lightweight Beneil Dariush at an open-to-the-public press conference (Imago)
Beneil Dariush’s heel hook submission attempt might have caused a severe leg injury to Tony Ferguson
Just like his previous fight against Charles Oliveira at UFC 256, Ferguson was mauled throughout the contest. He had absolutely no answer to Dariush’s ground game, as the Iranian emerged victorious via. unanimous decision.
This was ‘El Cucuy’s’ third straight loss, and he has reached the lowest point ever in his MMA career.
However, the one thing that still remains unparalleled within Ferguson is his toughness. In the second round of the fight at UFC 262, Dariush executed a deep heel hook, which almost broke Ferguson’s knee.
But the tough American refused to tap out and somehow managed to escape, amazing, everyone watching.
At the post-fight press conference Dariush claimed that he heard Ferguson’s knee popping loud and clear, while hoping that nothing serious has happened to him.
Dariush was quoted as saying:
“I don’t even wanna guess man [how worse the injury could be]. I hope nothing happened to his knee. That’s where your ACL goes, when you go for a heel hook and it pops like that, your ACL can be gone. I know he is a super human. We’ve heard it over and over again. I don’t want that on anybody…I hope he is fine.”
Dariush himself couldn’t get over his amazement at the fact that Ferguson didn’t tap to his heel hook.
He was asked if anyone else in the UFC, who wouldn’t have tapped in such a situation. Dariush never really gave out a name, but claimed that it would be great if he was able to do such a thing (like Ferguson).
Dariush said:
“I don’t know. It popped pretty bad. I mean, more power to you. I hope I could do that if it is necessary.”
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