White after Ferguson's 3rd straight loss: 'Time gets us all'

UFC president Dana White isn't entirely sure where Tony Ferguson stands after another rough fight, but he knows it's not looking good for the former interim lightweight champion.

Ferguson, who was unbeaten from 2013 to 2019, suffered his third straight loss to Beneil Dariush in Saturday's UFC 262 co-main event. Dariush controlled the 37-year-old on the ground for most of the fight and nearly submitted him in the second round.

"He had a tough three rounds," White said at the postfight press conference. "He couldn't stop the takedown, he couldn't get up from underneath Beneil. He had a tough night."

Ferguson suffered a ton of damage in his loss to Justin Gaethje last May, and White said that defeat might have contributed to his sudden decline. The UFC boss also thinks the overall wear and tear from Ferguson's 31 professional fights may be a factor.

"It could be that," White said. "It could be just time gets us all. It's one of those things. I don't know which one or both. But yeah, unfortunately, it's definitely hit Tony."

White isn't sure if he'll talk to Ferguson about retirement yet.

"I haven't even thought about it," White said. "He's tough as hell, though, man. He was in that heel hook and his ankle definitely popped. His ankle for the rest of the fight looked like a golf ball - maybe even a baseball - and he kept fighting. There's no quit in that dude."