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Blindfolds and 'Hell Week': Inside Tony Ferguson's crazy training methods
UFC legend Tony Ferguson will make his Misfits debut this weekend, taking on fan favourite Salt Papi on the undercard of fellow UFC graduates Darren Till and Luke Rockhold going head-to-head.
The American has had a long and illustrious career as a combat sports athlete that has seen him curate a record of 26-11 (11) and become the UFC interim lightweight champion.
As a mixed martial artist, Ferguson has to have a healthy variety in his training, from strength and conditioning to sports-specific sessions. But ‘El Cucuy’ has become famous for his somewhat unconventional methods when preparing himself for a fight.
Take a look at the weird and wonderful world of Ferguson’s training regime.
Shin and elbow conditioning
It is relatively common practice for MMA fighters or kickboxers to condition their shins using a rolling technique with a wooden stick or repeated kicks to a heavy bag to create microfractures in the bone, which, when adequately healed, will become stronger and denser bone to allow for more damage to an opponent and less damage to oneself.
Ferguson takes this to the next level. He uses a thinly padded metal pole, which he repeatedly kicks and elbows at almost full force.
A video shared by the UFC in 2018 shows Ferguson kicking the pole and explaining why he uses such an extreme method to strengthen his bones.
Ferguson said: “This is a pipe, it’s steel. This is my condition for my knees, or elbows too.
“I’m all about hit and not get hit. When I hit, I don’t want them to hit me back; I want them to have to think twice before they do.”
Wing Chun
Wing Chun is a Chinese martial art that is largely focused on close-quarters combat and being able to simultaneously attack and defend an opponent whilst maintaining tactile control over them.
Ferguson has practised Wing Chun for as long as he has been a fighter and is often seen on his social media practising on a wooden dummy. This is not just for show; it has had many practical benefits for Ferguson in his MMA career. Being able to hold an opponent’s guard and land an elbow has been a staple of Ferguson’s fighting.
It would be difficult, however, not to say that it is entertaining to watch Ferguson go to work on a wooden dummy.
- Read next | Misfits 22: The rise and fall of ex-UFC champion Luke Rockhold ahead of Darren Till clash
David Goggins’ 'Hell Week'
David Goggins is a well-known American fitness influencer who tells his story of overcoming obesity and depression to become a Navy SEAL – then going on to become an ultra-runner - preaching the invaluable impact of mental strength in all walks of life, gained through gruelling exercise.
Ferguson sought out the assistance of Goggins after suffering a lengthy losing streak in the UFC, looking to get himself into peak condition for his fight against Liverpudlian prospect Paddy Pimblett.
‘Hell Week’ is a well-known training method used by the Navy SEALs to push their recruits to their absolute limits, being put through near 20-hour days of training in some of the harshest conditions.
Goggins emulated this week with Ferguson and videos were posted to Instagram showing Ferguson vomiting on the treadmill and doing over a mile of walking lunges.
Goggins posted the programme for day one of ‘Hell Week’ to his social media. It looks gut-wrenching.
The caption read: “'Day 1 of hell week with Tony Ferguson consisted of three-plus hours of high-intensity, tempo cardio, over 600 push-ups, tonnes of chest exercises, stairclimber/assault bike/rowing/elliptical and then repeat. Tony is giving everything he has and is officially back in the lab! Stay hard.”
Blindfolded training
One of the former UFC interim lightweight champion’s favourite things to post on his social media is him using the speed bag, which he has mastered.
The speed bag is a traditional piece of boxing equipment used to build up shoulder endurance, reaction speed and coordination.
But such is his love for the unorthodox, it would be too easy to just do it the same way it has been done for decades - Ferguson prefers to put on a blindfold.
Even with a blindfold, the speed and consistency with which he can hit the bag is impressive. The benefit of doing it blindfolded is negligible, but it looks great on social media.
What is Ferguson doing ahead of his Misfits debut?
DAZN were able to join Ferguson in his training camp, and it looks as though he is taking a more traditional approach toward his first boxing fight.
He can be seen hitting the bag, including his favourite, the speed bag (without a blindfold), while also hitting the pads with his coach, Rashad Holloway, who said that their focus has been on perfecting the American’s technique after years of being a multi-disciplinarian.
Holloway said: “It’s been a transition. We are going from him working on 4/5 different sports to him just focusing on one thing.
“We are working on technique and form in everything we do.
“Your fundamentals have got to be one million times better in boxing.”
Ferguson admitted the transition from MMA to boxing has been difficult, especially having to train himself out of using his elbows.
Ferguson said: “The hardest part for me is not to throw my elbows. I always like cutting people up. In boxing, they are going to want to get close, and I just want to slice them real quick.”
Misfits X Series 22 and Tony Ferguson vs Salt Papi on Saturday only on DAZN PPV
Watch Darren Till vs. Luke Rockhold, Tony Ferguson vs Salt Papi and Dillon Danis, Joey Essex and more fight only on DAZN PPV this Saturday night, August 30.
