TONY FERGUSON PRODUCED an inspired performance last night to record his ninth straight win with a unanimous decision victory over former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos.

In the main event of UFC Fight Night 98 in Mexico City, Ferguson became the first fighter in the lightweight division to win nine straight fights and could now be set for a title shot against the winner of Conor McGregor and Eddie Alvarez.

The 32-year-old American out-fought his opponent in nearly every department from the first round and he was full value for unanimous 48-47 scores.

The scores probably didn’t fully reflect Ferguson’s dominance throughout the five-round right as he bloodied dos Anjos’ face with a flurry jabs and leg kicks.

Dos Anjos, who surrended his title to Eddie Alvarez in July, has now suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time in his career.

UFC Fight Night 98 results:

Main card 

• Tony Ferguson def. Rafael dos Anjos via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
• Diego Sanchez def. Marcin Held via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
• Ricardo Lamas def. Charles Oliveira via submission (guillotine choke) (Round 2, 2:13)
• Martín Bravo def. Claudio Puelles via technical knockout (Round 2, 1:55)
• Beneil Dariush def. Rashid Magomedov via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Alexa Grasso def. Heather Jo Clark via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

TV prelims 

• Erik Perez def. Felipe Arantes via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Joe Soto def. Marco Beltran via submission (heel-hook) (Round 1, 1:37)
• Max Griffin def. Erick Montano via technical knockout (Round 1, 0:54)
• Douglas Silva de Andrade def. Henry Briones via knockout (Round 3, 2:33)

Early prelims  

• Sam Alvey def. Alex Nicholson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Marco Polo Reyes def. Jason Novelli via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Enrique Barzola def. Chris Avila via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)

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