Tony Ferguson is making his return to combat sports, transitioning from the UFC to compete in the boxing ring. The former interim lightweight champion will be featured in Misfits Boxing, alongside MMA stars Darren Till and Luke Rockhold. Till is set for his third boxing match this year, while Rockhold will make his debut in the ring.
Till has victories over Anthony Taylor and Darren Stewart earlier this year but now faces a significant challenge against Rockhold, who has been engaged in past bickering with Misfits boss KSI. This event is viewed as a key moment for establishing their prominence within the promotion.
With Misfits Boxing officially announcing Luke Rockhold as Darren Till’s opponent, the main event for Misfits 22 was revealed tonight, also highlighting a double main event featuring Tony Ferguson versus Salt Papi. The event is scheduled for August 30th at the AO Arena in Manchester and will be available via DAZN PPV. This marks Till’s first PPV headlining event since joining Misfits, after previous matches were available only through subscription.
Fans might recognize Salt Papi from his viral knockout of veteran MMA fighter Josh Bruckner in January 2023. Despite a setback when Anthony Taylor defeated him, Salt Papi bounced back with two impressive knockout wins last year. Now, he faces his toughest opponent yet in former UFC star Ferguson, who, despite losing eight fights and calls to retire, remains eager to compete.
Both Rockhold and Ferguson have faced challenging paths late in their UFC careers; Ferguson ended with an 0-8 streak in his last fights, while Rockhold lost four of his final five. Ferguson even ventured into bare-knuckle boxing, where he faced Mike Perry but was forced to quit in the second round due to a severe injury causing multiple lost teeth.
Meanwhile, Darren Till has been active since leaving the UFC, where he nearly defeated reigning champion Doricus du Plessis in his final bout. He then moved to boxing, securing two wins, including a stoppage victory.
Fan Take: This crossover into boxing by prominent MMA fighters like Ferguson, Till, and Rockhold highlights the fluid nature of combat sports careers today and offers fresh excitement for fight fans. It also signals a growing trend where fighters seek new challenges and opportunities beyond traditional MMA, potentially reshaping how combat sports promotions attract and retain audiences.
