Tony Ferguson has never been one to mince his words or shy away from confrontation. Known for his eccentric personality and unpredictable fighting style, the man famously dubbed El Cucuy has built his reputation not only on his unique skill set inside the Octagon but also on his ability to engage in fiery trash talk. Over the years, Ferguson has faced some of the most dangerous fighters in mixed martial arts, and despite setbacks, he has remained one of the sport’s most talked-about figures.
As Ferguson prepares to make his boxing debut at Misfits 22 against YouTube star Salt Papi inside Manchester’s AO Arena this Saturday, he is still managing to grab headlines—this time with a blunt warning to UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan.
Ferguson’s Grappling Encounter with Tsarukyan
During an interview with MMA Fighting, Ferguson revealed that his competitive edge remains as sharp as ever, especially when it comes to defending his reputation against younger fighters. He recalled a recent interaction with Arman Tsarukyan while working on the Real Fights reality series in Thailand.
“When it goes into MMA, the chance presents itself, and it does interest me, because I don’t have to do it. We walked away, handshakes, and if that presents itself and it makes sense, yeah, we’re going to do it. But right now the focus is boxing,” Ferguson explained, emphasizing that while his attention is on Saturday’s boxing match, he hasn’t completely closed the door on MMA.
Ferguson then shared a startling story about a sparring incident that turned violent in an instant.
“Arman Tsarukyan, when we were over and I was doing the Real Fights (reality series), I was over there in Thailand, and I don’t know if you got to see it, people were trying to take me down. One person tried to take me down, and it wasn’t on film.
“I accidentally snapped his arm. He got an underhook, and I snapped his arm. Pulled him in and I threw him in an uchi mata, landed on him, and I walked away, and I went and I hosted a match. It was fast. I did it really quick.”
Even in recounting the incident, Ferguson’s words highlight his instincts as a fighter—raw, dangerous, and uncompromising.
He went on to describe how Tsarukyan approached him directly.
“When I was out there, Arman was like ‘Let’s grapple.’ I was like, ‘You don’t want to grapple me.’ He’s like ‘Why?’ [I replied] ‘Because I’ll take your ranking’.”
It was a typically Ferguson-like warning—sharp, memorable, and filled with the bravado that has long defined his persona.
Transition to Boxing and the Salt Papi Challenge
Despite his wealth of experience inside the UFC, Ferguson will walk into the Misfits 22 event as the underdog against Salt Papi, a crossover boxing personality with a surprisingly solid record in the influencer boxing scene.
This fight represents an unusual chapter in Ferguson’s storied career. At 40 years old, after a grueling run in the UFC where he once held the interim lightweight title, Ferguson is seeking to reinvent himself in a new combat sport.
His decision to take on Salt Papi is not without risks. Ferguson has lost his last eight fights in the UFC, with his once-feared aura slipping in recent years. Critics have questioned whether his best days are behind him, while fans wonder if boxing could breathe new life into his career.
A Worrying Admission
Ahead of the fight, Ferguson made a surprising admission that cast further doubt on his chances in the ring. Despite being known for his toughness, creativity, and durability inside the cage, he suggested his boxing skill set may not be as refined as expected.
This statement only amplifies the intrigue surrounding his match with Salt Papi. While Ferguson’s striking has always been unorthodox and dangerous in MMA, pure boxing requires a completely different approach—measured timing, footwork, and defensive awareness that cannot be masked by other martial arts disciplines.
For Ferguson, this could either become an opportunity to showcase his adaptability or a reminder that transitioning from MMA to boxing is not as straightforward as it seems.
Ferguson’s Legacy and the Shadow of Khabib
Ferguson’s willingness to call out fighters like Tsarukyan is consistent with the fiery competitive streak that defined his UFC run. His long-standing feud with former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov remains one of the sport’s biggest “what if” stories, with their planned clash famously collapsing five separate times due to injuries and circumstances.
Even years later, Ferguson hasn’t let go of that rivalry, frequently reigniting verbal jabs toward the undefeated Russian. By calling out current stars such as Tsarukyan, Ferguson appears eager to remind both fans and fighters that he still has something to offer.
What’s Next for Ferguson?
For now, all eyes are on his boxing debut. The Salt Papi fight will determine whether Ferguson’s move outside of MMA is the beginning of a new chapter or the continuation of a difficult late-career slide.
If he impresses, he could open doors for more boxing opportunities—or even crossover bouts blending elements of MMA and boxing. If he struggles, however, questions about his future in combat sports will only grow louder.
Yet one thing is certain: whether in the Octagon, on a boxing canvas, or in a training room in Thailand, Tony Ferguson remains unpredictable, dangerous, and willing to say exactly what’s on his mind. His warning to Tsarukyan was as much about pride as it was about competition. And even if he’s no longer at the peak of his powers, Ferguson’s ability to command attention proves that El Cucuy is far from finished as a figure in combat sports.
