Tony Ferguson has been there, performed that.
On the subject of his MMA profession, the previous UFC interim light-weight champion has confronted the perfect and defeated most of them however even he’s not above getting complacent on the subject of the challenges left forward of him within the sport. After leaving the UFC and signing with GFL, Ferguson was proud of a matchup in opposition to Dillon Danis however the combat by no means occurred as a result of GFL successfully closed up store earlier than holding a single present.
A couple of months later, Ferguson surprisingly signed with Misfits Boxing together with his debut set on Aug. 30 when he faces off with influencer Salt Papi in a co-main occasion from England. So how precisely did Ferguson find yourself in boxing?
“I’ve at all times needed to field,” Ferguson instructed MMA Combating. “I wasn’t allowed to field, I wasn’t allowed to combat. Rising up, my dad is such as you’re going to be enjoying sports activities, you’re going to go to varsity, you’re going to get your schooling and might work out what you wish to do. However I’m not going to pay in your schooling. You’re going to need to be adequate to get your scholarships. We selected wrestling as a substitute of baseball or soccer and we ended up doing that. We received Nationals and we did all these items. Ended up in MMA [but] at all times needed to field.
“After I noticed Conor [McGregor] and Nate [Diaz] go field, I needed to go field however no one was permitting me to go field. It was like OK, your model is with the UFC. You’re an MMA fighter proper now. So I used to be fortunate sufficient to have the ability to co-brand my model with the UFC model, construct my title as much as a sure diploma and to have the ability to use that for my future. Now thus, I’m a legend, I’m a f*cking fable or no matter you wish to name it, the person. Now could be that point.”
Whereas Ferguson is clearly finest recognized for what he completed within the UFC, the now 41-year-old fighter says he’s at all times had a ardour for boxing.
Actually, Ferguson revealed that he at all times educated in a boxing ring quite than a cage when getting ready for his fights. Whereas the 2 sports activities are clearly very totally different, Ferguson by no means misplaced that need to solely deal with boxing, which is what his upcoming combat is permitting him to do.
“This is a chance for me to go on the market, show what the f*ck I do know,” Ferguson mentioned. “As a result of I’ve put extra time in a boxing ring than I’ve in an octagon. Any time, I’ve ever ready for a combat within the octagon, I used to be at all times in a boxing ring. By no means in a cage. The one time I discovered myself in a cage was throughout combat night time. That’s how bizarre that shit was, proper?
“Now I get to placed on sneakers. I don’t have to fret about getting taken down. I don’t have to fret about f*cking folks attempting to choke me out or do all this different shit. The curiosity is there.”
Whether or not or not he’d classify it as going via the motions, Ferguson positively discovered himself being caught in a sure sample in the direction of the tip of his run within the UFC.
Mixing issues up with boxing has not solely been a enjoyable reset nevertheless it’s given Ferguson a need that he hasn’t felt in an extended whereas on the subject of his preventing profession.
“I really feel like how I used to be after I was getting ready again after I first began within the UFC, like in The Final Fighter,” Ferguson mentioned. “It’s contemporary. It’s attention-grabbing to me. I’m excited. I don’t know anyone. I don’t know what the f*ck’s going to occur however I do know there’s a bonus on the finish of this f*cking highway.
“They instructed me, you’re going to get a knockout bonus and the Combat of the Evening. That’s what they have been providing when you guys are adequate to do that. I’m like let’s f*cking receives a commission. As a result of that is attention-grabbing to me. I’m f*cking hungry.”
In restricted interactions together with his upcoming opponent, Ferguson has felt a a lot totally different vitality from Salt Papi on the subject of the promos he’s minimize to promote the occasion versus the little little bit of time they’ve spent round one another.
Listening to among the feedback made when he wasn’t round irritates Ferguson and he’s prepared for the chance to close down Salt Papi once they lastly conflict on Aug. 30.
“I received this dude that’s says he’s going to knock me out on a distinct digicam,” Ferguson mentioned. “However after I’m assembly him, he’s a rooster shit. He doesn’t wish to say the identical shit. It’s a distinct type of entity when it comes into it. Yeah, you’re f*cking proper, it lit a brand new hearth beneath me that I completely f*cking wanted.
“That’s thrilling to me. Earlier than hand, it wasn’t as thrilling. It was like what the f*ck. Now this can be a new alternative for me to have the ability to go on the market and shine. I get extra excited and I don’t wish to maintain repeating myself however I don’t have aspect quests anymore. This can be a model new f*cking recreation. This can be a new recreation.”
For now, Ferguson is just centered on his upcoming boxing match however he’s beforehand said that he’s nonetheless keen on different alternatives out there in fight sports activities whether or not that’s a return to MMA, grappling matches or one thing else.
He received’t discipline these gives till after he dispatches Salt Papi after which Ferguson guarantees he’s prepared open up for enterprise once more.
“I’m right here for one cause. It’s to f*ck shit up come Aug. 30. Misfits 22,” Ferguson mentioned. “Veruca Salt’s going to have his fingers f*cking full with ‘El Cucuy.’ Hate to speak to myself within the third particular person. It sounds f*cked up however yeah for certain.”
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