Former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion Tony Ferguson underwent knee surgery a little over a week ago due to an injury suffered days before UFC 223.
Kevin Lee has previously fought Ferguson and he believes the former champion isn’t going to be the same fighter when the injury heals.
“I feel bad for the guy, I really do. I don’t think he’ll ever be the same coming off that one,” Lee said on The Joe Rogan Experience MMA Show. “That’s huge, especially at 34, to try and come back off that. And it kind of sucks for me, too, because I think I fought the best Tony Ferguson that you’re gonna see, period, really.”
Lee and Ferguson met back in the main event of UFC 216, where Ferguson got the victory to claim the vacant UFC Interim Lightweight Title.
One thing Lee is concerned about with Ferguson is the fighter’s mindset when he gets back into action.
“He’ll come back and he’ll still beat great guys. He’s still gonna do very good. But I don’t think he’ll be the same,” Lee said. “I think the body can come back, it’s just I don’t know if his mind will let him be as free, that was one of Tony’s biggest assets. He just does whatever the fck he wants, and now, when he gets back in there, is he gonna be thinking about his knee? Even if that’s at the back of your mind, it’s limited to that type of style that he likes to fight.”
There is no word yet on just how long Ferguson is going to be out of action for, but more should be known as he recovers from the surgery.
