sport news Tony Ferguson vs Michael Chandler is huge crossroads fight at UFC 274 in Phoenix

If Saturday night is the end of the road for Tony Ferguson, what a sad way it will be to go out. 

'El Cucuy', for all his idiosyncrasies, is one of the most compelling characters in the UFC but his current trajectory is a plummet downwards.

He faces Michael Chandler in a fight dubbed 'the people's main event' in Phoenix at UFC 274 this weekend and defeat will end any title aspirations, perhaps his MMA career too. 

Chandler is a heavy favourite with the bookies, given a 75 percent chance of winning. 

So an upset would also be catastrophic for him. This three-rounder has so much on the line for both men and major ramifications for the lightweight division. 

Ferguson was tipped by many as the man who could beat Khabib Nurmagomedov but their fight fell off five times and felt cursed. 

Injuries, botched weight cuts and Covid all conspired against them and the comedown for the 38-year-old has been immense. 

He went more than four-and-a-half rounds with Justin Gaethje and found himself battered from pillar to post. 

Eventually it was the referee who stepped in to spare the zombie-like fighter any more punishment. 

Commentators and fans questioned whether Ferguson would ever be the same again. In truth, those fears have looked accurate. 

Ferguson's self belief is unwavering but after losing to Gaethje, he dropped a unanimous decision to Charles Oliveira. 

Of course, there's no shame in coming up short against the current lightweight champion but it was the manner of defeat that was so worrying. 

He was dominated in just about every department and seemed to have aged overnight. 

Far from being given a softball next outing, the UFC matched Ferguson against Beneil Dariush. He was controlled on the ground for most of the fight and inexplicably refused to tap when his arm was being wrenched into an ungodly position. 

Ferguson's mind is still strong but the body seems to be letting him down now.