Tony Ferguson Claims Misfits Boxing Title in Remarkable 2025 Comeback Story
From Historic Losing Streak to Boxing Champion
After a historic rough patch that saw him lose eight straight fights to end his UFC tenure, the one-time UFC interim lightweight champion has turned things around in 2025, picking up his second win of the year at Misfits Mania. The former mixed martial arts star, known as ‘El Cucuy’, has found new life in the boxing ring, proving that redemption is possible even after the darkest periods in a combat sports career.
This transformation is particularly significant for fans who watched Ferguson’s painful decline in the UFC, where he holds the record for the longest losing streak in UFC history. In January 2025, it was announced that Ferguson had parted ways with the UFC and signed with the Global Fight League. However, his boxing venture with Misfits has proven to be the right path forward.
Victory in Dubai Caps Off Feel-Good Year
Ferguson got the nod from the judges, becoming the Misfits undisputed middleweight champion in his second win of 2025. The bout against Warren Spencer in Dubai showcased Ferguson’s experience and determination. Ferguson dropped Spencer, then got in his face, taunting the fallen foe. Though Round 4 provided Ferguson with a brief scare, as Spencer found a clean body shot that opened up Ferguson’s high guard, allowing some problematic punches to get through, he was visibly hurt and lost the round, only to rally and nearly put away Spencer late in Round 5.
Boxing Debut and Path to Success
Ferguson made his boxing debut in August when he scored a third-round stoppage of Nathaniel ‘Salt Papi’ Bustamante to finally halt his nightmarish losing streak, with the match serving as the first win in any discipline since 2019 for ‘El Cucuy.’ The emotional victory brought the 41-year-old fighter to tears, marking a turning point in his career.
According to Ferguson, Brock Lesnar played a crucial role in instilling a positive mindset, and he received valuable advice on following his ‘second passion’, with boxing unraveling as the answer to the former UFC fighter. This guidance proved instrumental in Ferguson’s decision to pursue boxing professionally.
Future Prospects and Significance
Now that he holds Misfits’ middleweight title, Ferguson will presumably be sticking around for more boxing matches inside the promotion’s ring in 2026. For long-time combat sports fans, Ferguson’s comeback represents more than just winning fights—it’s a story of resilience, adaptation, and refusing to let a difficult chapter define an entire career. His success in boxing offers hope that athletes can reinvent themselves and find new paths to victory, even after seemingly insurmountable setbacks.