Tony Ferguson (photo via UFC)

By  FCF Staff

Tony Ferguson outlasted Kevin Lee last night at UFC 216, and it sounds like that was “El Cucuy’s” game plan from the get go.

Lee took Ferguson down in the opening round of the bout, and punished the latter with strikes. But, as the fight wore on, Lee fatigued and Ferguson went on to score a third round, submission win.

Ferguson had this to say about his strategy for the contest, during the FS 1 post-fight show (quote via FOX Sports 1 press release):

“The game plan was to get him so aggressive that he’d use the energy. He was pinned up against the cage, but I had him in a can opener situation, which takes energy out of him. I had a lot of hay in the barn to go five rounds. I know he was going to put on a lot of pressure. I knew the arm bar was going to be there and then there was the triangle.”

“I kept him at the end of my jab. He wasn’t flying into it. His takedowns got weaker, his kicks got weaker and his punches got weaker. I just kept composed. He was going to get weaker and I was going to get him. I’m an Ultimate Fighter winner. He’s not.”

With the win, Ferguson extended his winning streak to 10. UFC 216 took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.