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Tony Ferguson has emerged as a face to watch at lightweight.
Tony Ferguson has emerged as a face to watch at lightweight.Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

UFC 184: 5 Fights for Tony Ferguson

Raphael GarciaMar 1, 2015

The UFC's lightweight division is filled with men who are poised to make a charge at the current title holder, Anthony Pettis. Tony Ferguson is in such a position. After an impressive win at UFC 184, "El Cucuy" should expect to face some tougher opposition from this point forward.

These five men would make interesting opponents for the next time he steps into the Octagon.

Al Iaquinta

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Al Iaquinta has steadily improved.
Al Iaquinta has steadily improved.

New York native Al Iaquinta has put together a three-fight winning streak that has pushed him into the No. 14 slot of the UFC's current rankings ladder.

Iaquinta has a tough test in front of him at UFC Fight Night: Mendes versus Lamas, where he will face Jorge Masvidal. If he can get past "Gamebred", he should then put his winning streak up against Ferguson's. The winner of said fight should expect to be ranked within the top 10 of the weight class and potentially one more fight out of title contention.

Jorge Masvidal

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Jorge Masvidal is a consistently tough opponent for anyone.
Jorge Masvidal is a consistently tough opponent for anyone.

Masvidal is currently ranked one position above Iaquinta. The former Strikeforce title challenger has been defeated only one time since facing Gilbert Melendez back in 2011.

Masvidal has flown under the radar within the UFC, and that has played to his favor. If he can defeat Iaquinta in April, he would be an interesting opponent for Ferguson to face next.

Josh Thomson

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Josh Thomson is a former title holder at the latter part of his career.
Josh Thomson is a former title holder at the latter part of his career.

Josh Thomson is the type of name in MMA that an up-and-coming fighter needs on his resume. Thomson was close to obtaining a shot at Pettis but fell short via a controversial split-decision loss to Benson Henderson.

Thomson has not had great outings in his last two bouts, but he still has value to someone in Ferguson's position.

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Eddie Alvarez

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Eddie Alvarez would be a tough opponent for Tony Ferguson.
Eddie Alvarez would be a tough opponent for Tony Ferguson.

To face the former Bellator champion, Eddie Alvarez, would be a very tough challenge for Ferguson. Still, this is a fight that would immediately catapult Ferguson into the top 10 of the weight class.

Alvarez has a boxing style that would match well with Ferguson’s and create a fight that would be exciting for fight fans.

Michael Johnson

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Michael Johnson has looked much improved in recent fights
Michael Johnson has looked much improved in recent fights

Michael Johnson is another competitor who has continued to improve since his time on The Ultimate Fighter.

He is riding a four-fight win streak of his own that has pushed him into the No. 6 slot in the weight class. Putting him against Ferguson is the type of battle that would give the winner the ammunition to demand a title eliminator in 2015.

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