Tony Ferguson, a prominent figure in the world of UFC, sent shockwaves through the community back in 2019 when his wife shed light on a deeply troubling experience that left her fearing for their son’s safety.
The gravity of the situation resulted in the issuance of a restraining order, which added a new layer of complexity to this saga. Christina Ferguson took the courageous step of filing a request for temporary domestic violence restraining order with Orange County (Calif) in March 2019.
UFC’s Tony Ferguson Accused of Domestic Violence, Wife Files for Restraining Order https://t.co/13wSIGlAey
— TMZ (@TMZ) March 14, 2019
According to MMA Fighting, the distressing incident unfolded on March 7 when the former UFC interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson, allegedly forcefully took their 2-year-old son from Christina’s parents’ home, resulting in a troubling altercation where both Christina and her mother were pushed aside.
The situation escalated further as Tony Ferguson kept their son away for six days, leaving Christina deeply concerned for her child’s safety.
In her court declaration, Cristina recounted how she and her mother attempted to stop Tony from leaving by standing in his way. However, he forcefully pushed both of them aside, rushing back into the house and then out through the back door, ultimately scaling a fence, all while holding his son in his arms.
She pleaded her case to the court, expressing her fear for the safety of their son. In her written declaration, Cristina emphasized, “I was terrified for the safety of our son.”
The fallout from this incident for Tony Ferguson
In response, the restraining order demanded that Tony stay away not only from his 2-year-old son but also from Christina’s parents and her brother.
Furthermore, Christina demanded Tony undergo a 52-week batterer intervention program, and a psychiatric evaluation, and comply with all prescribed treatment and medication.
When Tony Ferguson’s wife called police for help🥶 pic.twitter.com/HLs4zfPKdQ
— adam|video editor (@adamwilloms1) June 10, 2023
Taking a drastic legal stance, Christina Ferguson requested full custody of their child, highlighting the seriousness of the matter. The situation came to the attention of the authorities on March 13 when the request for the restraining order was filed, prompting the Santa Ana police to visit Tony’s residence and ‘remove’ the child.
Regrettably, this incident is not isolated, as the Santa Ana police have been called to the Ferguson family residence multiple times from January 2018 to March 2019.
As the case unfolds, the court scheduled a domestic violence prevention services investigation into Tony Ferguson for March 22, followed by a hearing on April 5, signaling a critical phase in this emotionally charged legal battle.
Tony Ferguson’s wife dropped the restraining order
The anticipated hearing scheduled for April 5, 2019, unfortunately, did not take place, as requested by Cristina Ferguson’s counsel. Moreover, the temporary restraining order that was previously in effect was expired.
Cristina’s attorney communicated afterward via email to MMA Fighting that there are currently no pending matters in this case.
Update on the Tony Ferguson story, which was first reported by @mmajunkiesteven. Here is a statement from Ferguson’s wife, via her lawyer, provided to ESPN: https://t.co/bQF3yOKxYF pic.twitter.com/2j4JHTdENG
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) March 15, 2019
However, no specific reason was provided for the request to cancel the hearing, and further inquiries from the media were unanswered. It’s important to note that despite the severe nature of the allegations, Tony Ferguson did not face any arrests or charges related to this matter.
Additionally, Cristina Ferguson did not file for divorce, adding another layer of complexity to this already perplexing situation.
Tony Ferguson’s problem with alcohol, DUI arrest
No arrests were made in the recent incident under discussion; however, it’s worth noting that Tony Ferguson has had prior encounters with the law due to his struggles with alcohol.
Back in May 2023, he faced an unfortunate arrest for crashing his truck into two parked cars outside a nightclub, resulting in his vehicle flipping on its side and airbags deploying.
Witnesses at the scene reported observing signs of alcohol impairment, with Tony’s eyes appearing bloodshot. TMZ’s coverage also indicated that he declined to undergo a field sobriety test and displayed uncooperative behavior toward the police.
Tony Ferguson has been arrested, according to TMZ.
Ferguson’s truck flipped over at 2am near a Hollywood nightclub
Thank God he’s not injured.#UFC pic.twitter.com/MK91I1B8Vq
— Anurag Tiwari 🇮🇳 (@anuragtiwari703) May 7, 2023
Following this incident, Ferguson was charged with a misdemeanor DUI, and his refusal to take the field sobriety test could potentially lead to a license suspension. These incidents shed light on his persistent issues with alcohol, which seem to be an ongoing struggle for the former UFC lightweight champion.
In recent times, Ferguson’s professional career has faced significant challenges as well. Having lost his last six fights, he currently holds a record of 26-8, a stark contrast to his earlier achievements in the sport.