Tony Ferguson won his boxing debut with a TKO victory against Salt Papi on August 31, 2025. This marked his first win in any combat sport since June 2019.

What happened?

Ferguson faced Salt Papi in Manchester, England, and applied forward pressure throughout the fight.

Why it matters for Tony Ferguson

The win is significant for Ferguson, who had suffered seven consecutive losses in the UFC before parting ways with the promotion in August 2024.

Ferguson's victory was emotional, with him falling to his knees in the ring, overcome with tears.

What comes next?

With this win, Ferguson has once again captured the combat sports world's attention, proving that he still has a story left to tell.

The fight was competitive, with Salt Papi landing clean shots and appearing comfortable with his footwork.

Ferguson's experience and skill ultimately paid off, as he unleashed a relentless flurry of punches in the third round, forcing the ref to step in.

The stoppage was deemed premature by some, but Salt Papi accepted the loss and shared a picture on his Instagram of himself and Ferguson embracing after the fight.

Ferguson's win earned him the Misfits Boxing interim middleweight title, a testament to his enduring skill and determination.

The 41-year-old veteran's career had seemed to be nearing its end after his final UFC loss to Michael Chiesa via submission in August 2024.

But Ferguson refused to be defined by his setbacks, seeking a new beginning in the boxing ring.

He signed with Misfits Boxing and faced Salt Papi, a social media personality and boxer, in his professional boxing debut.

The event took place on August 31, 2025, in Manchester, England, and was a closely watched bout in the combat sports world.

Ferguson's victory has sparked renewed interest in his career, and fans will be eager to see what comes next for the veteran fighter.

The win marked a triumphant return to the winner's circle for Ferguson, who had been one of the most feared fighters in the UFC's lightweight division in the 2010s.

His legendary 12-fight winning streak between 2013 and 2019 is one of the most impressive runs in the sport.

Ferguson's determination and skill have inspired fans and earned him a reputation as one of the toughest fighters in the combat sports world.

The future looks bright for Tony Ferguson, and his win against Salt Papi is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his career.