UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is now the promotion’s longest-tenured fighter. This past week, the UFC parted ways with former interim champion Tony Ferguson, who had been with the promotion since he broke in on The Ultimate Fighter in 2011.
Earlier in the month, the UFC released Clay Guida, the longest-tenured fighter still remaining on the roster. Guida took to Instagram on Saturday to confirm the release.
UFC Parts Ways With Tony Ferguson
Ferguson, 40, is on a brutal eight-fight losing streak and immediately signed with the Global Fight League. He was drafted by the Los Angeles team on Saturday. There are rumors Ferguson will face another former UFC fighter, Kevin Lee, at some point soon.
Lee was drafted by the GFL’s New York team.
Many, including UFC President Dana White, urged Ferguson to retire, but the defiant veteran wants to continue fighting. Ferguson finished his UFC career with losses to Michael Chiesa in August 2024, Paddy Pimblett in December 2023, Bobby Green in July 2023, Nate Diaz in September 2022, Michael Chandler in May 2022, Beneil Dariush in May 2021, Charles Oliveira in December 2020, and Justin Gaethje in May 2020.
Quite honestly, there was nowhere else to go with Ferguson in the UFC.
UFC Parts Ways With Clay Guida
Guida, 43, was in a similar position. He is on a three-fight losing streak, and many were surprised the GFL didn’t move to sign him. Perhaps it did, but Guida turned down the offer. Guida finished his run with a submission loss to Chase Hooper in December 2024, and decision losses to Joaquim Silva and Rafa Garcia in December 2023 and April 2023, respectively.
Guida never reached interim champion status like Ferguson, but his classic fight with Diego Sanchez in June 2009 has been inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
UFC’s Longest-Tenured Fighters Still on the Roster
- Jon Jones – 2008-08-09
- Jim Miller – 2008-10-18
- Rafael Dos Anjos – 2008-11-15
- Darren Elkins – 2010-03-21
- Brad Tavares – 2010-06-19
- Court McGee – 2010-06-19
- Charles Oliveira – 2010-08-01
- Edson Barboza – 2010-11-20
- Michael Johnson – 2010-12-04
- Dustin Poirier – 2011-01-01
Jones made his UFC debut in August 2008 and has established himself as the greatest fighter of all time. He’s won the UFC light heavyweight title, and he is the reigning UFC heavyweight champion.
When you consider he’s been in the UFC longer than everyone on the list above and accomplished more, it makes his current state as champion and pound-for-pound contender all the more impressive.
UFC Saudi Arabia – February 1
Looking ahead, the next UFC event takes place on Saturday afternoon on February 1 in Saudi Arabia. Here is a look at the entire card.
- Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov – Middleweight (185 lbs)
- Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Michael Page – Middleweight (185 lbs)
- Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik – Heavyweight (265 lbs)
- Said Nurmagomedov vs. Vinicius Oliveira – Bantamweight (135 lbs)
- Ikram Aliskerov vs. André Muniz – Middleweight (185 lbs)
- Muhammad Naimov vs. Kaan Ofli – Featherweight (145 lbs)
- Shamil Gaziev vs. Thomas Petersen – Heavyweight (265 lbs)
- Terrance McKinney vs. Damir Hadžović – Lightweight (155 lbs)
- Fares Ziam vs. Mike Davis – Lightweight (155 lbs)
- Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Mayra Bueno Silva – Flyweight (125 lbs)
- Bogdan Grad vs. L. Alexander – Featherweight (145 lbs)
- Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Jamal Pogues – Heavyweight (265 lbs)
- Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady vs. Bolaji Oki – Lightweight (155 lbs)
Stay tuned for fight week coverage leading up to the event.
