Tony Ferguson was released from hospital in the early hours of Sunday morning, after suffering what UFC president Dana White described as “the most vicious knockout I’ve ever seen”. The former interim lightweight champion was out cold after a stunning front kick KO early in the second round from Michael Chandler at UFC 274 in Phoenix, Arizona. The 38-year-old American (25-7) was out for several minutes, and was transported to hospital straight from the Footprint Centre. He underwent a CAT scan, but the results came back negative. “I don’t know anything about Tony other than that was the most vicious knockout I’ve ever seen,” White said the post-fight press conference.” The 38-year-old Ferguson (25-7), who had never been knocked clean out before, is one a four-fight skid, having come up short against Justin Gaethje by TKO, Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush by decision, and now Chandler. His current rough patch was preceded by 12 consecutive victories – one of the best streaks in the history of the UFC lightweight division. “Everybody was asking me, ‘Is this make or break for Tony Ferguson?’ I said no, he’s still one of the top 10 guys in the world,” White added. “He looked damn good in that first round, but that was a vicious knockout. “Tony needs to take some time off after that knockout. But it’s not like, ‘Oh my god, Tony got dominated and looks like he doesn’t belong here’. He looked damn good until he got caught. In this game, anybody can get caught with anything.” UFC 274: Oliveira taps out Gaethje, says ‘something is missing’ The 36-year-old Chandler (23-7) is now 2-2 since joining the UFC from Bellator, where he was a two-time lightweight champion, and he had plenty of sympathy for his fellow American. “It’s a tough sport,” Chandler said at the press conference. “Ideally that’s what I want to do to Tony Ferguson every time. We’re in the game of separating people from consciousness – punching, kicking, kneeing, elbowing. But Tony Ferguson is a guy that helped build this division. “You can’t talk about the history of the lightweight division without talking about Tony Ferguson and my thoughts and prayers are with him. I know he’ll be back. He’s ‘El Cucuy’. He’s the boogeyman. He’s Tony Ferguson. He’ll be back.”