Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight Tony Ferguson has been cleared medically and even had UFC President Dana White personally sit down with him to allow him to compete at UFC 238.
TMZ interviewed White on Thursday about what it took to get Tony Ferguson back inside the Octagon. Before allowing Ferguson to fight, the UFC insisted on his medical clearance. After doing so, White took it upon himself to check up on the much-maligned fighter.
“So…obviously we know, he went through a lot of doctors and he’s done all the right things it takes to make us feel comfortable that he’s good to go,” remarked White. “And we got together in Vegas and sat down, talked a while. I’m in a really good place with Tony Ferguson fighting, and like I said, if your personal life isn’t in order, there’s no way that your professional life would be in order. He got his stuff together, and it’s all good.”
Ferguson is currently scheduled to face Donald Cerrone at UFC 238 this weekend. He last competed inside the Octagon in a “Fight of the Night” battle against Anthony Pettis at UFC 229 in October, where he finished the former UFC and World Extreme Cagefighting champion at the end of the second round. “El Cucuy” is currently riding an 11-fight win streak, including eight finishes, and he has earned seven post-fight bonuses in his last seven bouts.
White concluded by again stressing that the doctors had the ultimate say on Ferguson’s clearance, and his own approval came later: “Listen, first and foremost, as long as the doctors say he’s ok, you know, then I sit down and talk to him, and…looks good to me.”