Anthony Armand “Tony” Ferguson was born on February 12, 1984, in Oxnard, California, though he spent much of his childhood in Muskegon, Michigan. Of Mexican heritage, he inherited his surname from his Scottish-American stepfather. A natural athlete, Ferguson excelled during his high school years at Muskegon Catholic Central as a three-sport standout in football, baseball, and wrestling. He served as a starting defensive back on the football team that captured the Division 8 state championship in 2000, and he earned three All-State wrestling selections, including winning the 152-lb division in 2002. He continued wrestling at the collegiate level—attending Central Michigan, Grand Valley State, and Muskegon Community College—and achieved a significant triumph by claiming the NCWA national wrestling championship in the 165-lb division in 2006.
Following college, Ferguson relocated to California to be nearer to family and balanced work in marketing and sales with bartending nights. A chance encounter in a bar—where a patron noticed his cauliflower ear and learned of his wrestling background—led to an invitation to help train young MMA athletes. This opportunity ignited his passion for professional fighting and launched his MMA career, ultimately leading him to become a notable figure in the UFC, where he earned the nickname “El Cucuy.”
In early 2025, after concluding his MMA journey, Ferguson embarked on a new path in combat sports by transitioning into professional boxing. He accepted a high-profile bout against Salt Papi—an influencer-turned-boxer—as the co-main event of the Misfits Boxing 22 “Ring of Thrones” event, scheduled for August 30 at Manchester’s AO Arena. In this match, he will compete for the interim Misfits Boxing middleweight title, marking a compelling new chapter in his sporting career as he steps into the boxing ring for the first time.