The benefit of fighting in a picture-sharpening main event a week ahead of the Year’s Biggest Card is that people are going to talk. Tony Ferguson went to Mexico City and fought the former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos as if to send a ripple up to New York. Nevermind that he was above 7,000 feet, an elevation that nearly did Marcin Held in just a bout before — Ferguson is the kind of fighter that could put pace on the sherpas at the Hillary Step. What Ferguson did by beating RDA was put pressure on current lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, and — perhaps even more so — that big challenger at UFC 205 next week, Conor McGregor.
‘El Cucuy’ made himself into the phantom of the opera for MSG show
