UFC veteran Tony Ferguson has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence after flipping his truck in Hollywood, California, last month. TMZ Sports was first to report the news, with Ferguson entering his not guilty plea at an arraignment on June 1.
Details of the Incident
The former interim lightweight champion allegedly crashed his truck into two parked cars while driving by a Hollywood nightclub on May 7, and Ferguson’s vehicle flipped onto its side. One of the cars in the crash reportedly belonged to rapper Cash Gotti, who arrived at the scene to find his vehicle totaled. Ferguson was uninjured in the wreck but refused to take a field sobriety test and was “very uncooperative” at the scene, according to law enforcement officials. One officer revealed that Ferguson also “reeked” of alcohol and had bloodshot eyes. He was arrested with bail set at $30,000 but was later released on his own recognizance.
Court Hearing and Upcoming Fight
Ferguson is due back in court for a hearing later this month, according to the report. Despite this recent mishap, it was recently announced that Ferguson will square off against Bobby Green at UFC 291 in Salt Lake City, Utah, on July 29. “El Cucuy,” who once won 12 consecutive UFC bouts from 2013 to 2019, has fallen on hard times in recent years.
Ferguson is winless in his last five Octagon appearances, including a fourth-round submission defeat to Nate Diaz in his most recent outing at UFC 279 this past September. With his legal troubles and recent struggles in the Octagon, it remains to be seen how this situation will affect his upcoming fight and future career in the UFC.