Former UFC interim champion Tony Ferguson was arrested for driving under the influence in Hollywood, California, early Sunday morning.
The 39-year-old fighter crashed his truck into two parked cars outside a nightclub, flipping his vehicle on its side and deploying the airbags. Witnesses claimed that Ferguson reeked of alcohol and had bloodshot eyes.
According to TMZ, Ferguson refused to take a field sobriety test and was uncooperative with authorities at the scene. He now faces a misdemeanor DUI charge and could have his license suspended for refusing the sobriety test.
Correction: Tony Ferguson was the former INTERIM Lightweight Champion in the UFC. pic.twitter.com/TIwAsECGBr
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One of the vehicles Ferguson reportedly crashed into belonged to rapper Cash Gotti, who shared a video of his damaged Mercedes on his Instagram story.
This incident is the latest in a string of personal and professional struggles for Ferguson. He has lost his last five fights and currently holds a 25-8 record. Ferguson's wife, Cristina Servin, filed for a restraining order against him in 2019, citing multiple domestic incidents. However, she later dropped the order, stating that it was an attempt to get her husband mental health help.
Despite these setbacks, Ferguson remains a fan favorite and one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC. He won the lightweight title in 2017 with a submission victory over Kevin Lee but was stripped of the belt shortly after due to an injury. Ferguson lost by TKO to Justin Gaethje in 2019 in a bid to reclaim his title, beginning his recent string of losses.
While Ferguson's fighting career is undoubtedly impressive, his recent personal struggles have caused concern among fans and those close to him. Hopefully, this latest incident will serve as a wake-up call for the fighter to seek the help he needs to overcome his personal demons and get his career back on track.